California Orders Robot Combat Firm REK to Halt Unsanctioned Human-Robot Fights

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has issued a cease and desist order to robot combat company REK, directing it to stop hosting, promoting, or sponsoring combat events that have not been approved by the commission. The agency said organizing such activities without a proper license is a misdemeanor.

The order targets a humanoid robot cage match sponsored by REK in San Francisco on September 18, 2026. YouTuber Frankie LaPenna entered the cage and fought three different robots in succession. It remains unclear whether the event was intended as a legitimate sports competition or a marketing stunt, but it appeared aimed at drawing wider attention to REK's robot fighting platform.

The report also noted a historical case of robot-related death: on October 4, 1979, factory worker Robert Williams was killed by a robotic arm at a Ford plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, becoming the first recorded human death caused by a robot. The incident has fueled ongoing concerns about safety and ethics in human-robot combat.