The 42‑second video shows LaPenna, a 29‑year‑old influencer with more than 20 million followers, trading punches with the towering machine before the robot delivers a powerful push‑kick that sends him sprawling to the mat, ending the bout in a decisive defeat for the human competitor.
The robot, designed to resemble the T‑800 from the Terminator franchise, stands about 1.8 metres tall and is part of RE K’s virtual‑reality game that pits players against remote‑controlled humanoid robots. The clip, posted on Instagram, has drawn close to 50 million views and includes a voice‑over warning LaPenna, “I’m scared for you, man,” seconds before the clash.
RE K promoted the event as “the first Human vs Terminator robot fight,” posting on X that “last night was a turning point in history, a striking moment to behold.” The company says the stunt was intended to showcase its upcoming VR title, which lets users battle machines like the Rekbot in simulated arenas.
While RE K billed the bout as unprecedented, similar human‑versus‑robot skirmishes have occurred before, such as a December showdown in which the CEO of a Chinese robotics firm was knocked down by his own T‑800‑style creation. Online reaction to the LaPenna fight ranged from amusement to alarm, with commenters invoking dystopian films such as The Matrix, Blade Runner and I, Robot, and warning that “we are creating what will end us.”
RE K hinted that the Rekbot was “not even the final boss,” teasing further matches and even suggesting future bouts against professional mixed‑martial‑arts fighters. No official schedule has been announced, but the company’s social‑media posts indicate that more robot‑human confrontations are planned.