A man enters an MMA ring against a robot - and then came the kick that knocked him down

A viral video shows American influencer Frankie LaPenna entering an MMA ring against a humanoid robot from REK Robotics, which knocks him down with a kick. The clip garnered over 3.3 million views on YouTube within 24 hours, but the company admitted the robot was remotely operated by a human, and the video was cut before LaPenna defeated the machine. Doubts are growing.

A viral video that flooded social media shows American influencer Frankie LaPenna entering an MMA ring against a humanoid robot from REK Robotics, standing 1.83 meters tall, with a head designed to resemble the T-800 from "The Terminator." After an exchange of blows, the robot kicked LaPenna and knocked him to the ground. The clip garnered over 3.3 million views on YouTube within just 24 hours, along with widespread exposure on Instagram, TikTok, and X. However, viewers and experts cast doubt on the authenticity of the fight: the punches LaPenna landed appeared partial, and REK Robotics confirmed that the robot was not operating autonomously but was remotely controlled by a human. The company claimed on its X account that the video was cut, and that after the point where the viral clip ends, LaPenna continued the fight and even defeated the machine. LaPenna's background, known for comedic stunts and pranks, reinforced the assessment that this was an entertainment spectacle. The article notes that despite advances in humanoid robots, a prolonged confrontation with a human fighter requires capabilities that the video does not prove the robot can perform autonomously.