Robot Fighting Company Achieves 100% Sell-Out Rate Across Five Cities
San Francisco based Robot Embodied Kombat (REK) has completed its first nationwide robot fighting tour. With every event reaching capacity, signaling growing public interest in humanoid robot combat entertainment. The REK America tour, featuring VR controlled humanoid robot fights, ran from November 11-25 across five major US cities. Attracting diverse audiences from Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Austin, Miami, and New York City and beyond.
The company’s inaugural robot combat event in September at San Francisco’s Temple nightclub sold nearly 3,400 tickets for a venue with a 2,500-person capacity, marking the largest draw in the venue’s 20-year history. The event featured Twitch co-founder Justin Kan and UFC veteran Hyder Amil piloting Unitree G1 humanoid robots in combat.
VR-Controlled Humanoid Combat: How REK’s Technology Works
REK’s humanoid robot fighting business model centers on VR controlled robot combat where operators wear virtual reality headsets to control humanoid robots in real time physical combat. The company uses proprietary software called REK TEK to link human movements to robot bodies, with robot fights taking place at live venues.
The REK America tour schedule included:
- Los Angeles – Nocturne Theatre (November 11)
- Las Vegas (November 13)
- Austin (November 17)
- Miami (November 20)
- New York City (November 25)
Each venue reported selling out in advance of the scheduled events. Post event surveys indicated majority interest in attending future events, according to the company.
Technology Platform Uses Unitree Robotics Hardware
REK currently operates using robots manufactured by Chinese company Unitree Robotics. The primary models include the Unitree G1, which stands approximately 127cm tall and weighs 30kg, and the larger Unitree H1-2, which stands nearly 6 feet tall and weighs 70kg with a price exceeding $100,000.
Chief Technology Officer Amanda Watson stated in interviews that the company plans to transition to humanoids matching adult male height and size by year end. Watson, who has experience addressing latency issues in VR systems, oversees the technical development of REK’s control platform.
The robots are equipped with boxing gloves, armor, and in some demonstrations, swords. Fights feature pilots controlling the robots through VR interfaces that provide views of the robot’s body, surroundings, health metrics, and performance data.
Technical Challenges Remain in Robot Combat Development
The company has been transparent about technical limitations in current humanoid combat systems. Robots can overheat when actuators fire rapidly during combat sequences, and balance issues occur when attacks miss or robots take unexpected impacts.
In July 2025, founder Cix Liv posted a video showing a robot designated “DeREK” malfunctioning while suspended from a gantry. When the team sent a full body command while the robot’s feet weren’t grounded, it began flailing violently before part of its head detached. The incident highlighted both the power and current control limitations of humanoid combat robots.
Founder Background in VR Technology
Cix Liv founded REK after previously establishing LIV in 2016, a company that developed technology for livestreaming virtual reality sessions. Industry observers have credited LIV videos with helping the VR game Beat Saber achieve viral success.
Liv has stated publicly that he chose to invest in robotics rather than purchasing real estate, committing personal resources to the development of robot combat entertainment.
Company Currently Recruiting Across Multiple Positions
REK’s website (rek.com) currently lists open positions across several departments. Job categories include robotics engineering, AI and machine learning development, VR software development, event production, content creation, and mechanical maintenance.
The company’s social media presence on X (formerly Twitter) at @REKrobot provides updates on hiring opportunities and upcoming events.
Robot Combat Industry Sees Growing Competition and Interest
REK operates in an emerging robot combat entertainment sector that has attracted attention from established sports organizations. In November 2025, Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO Group Holdings (which oversees UFC and WWE), publicly expressed interest in hosting fights featuring humanoid robots, specifically mentioning Elon Musk’s Optimus robots.
A competing organization, Ultimate Fighting Bots (UFB), has also entered the market with a different technical approach, using traditional game controllers and browser based remote piloting rather than VR systems.
In August 2025, Beijing hosted the World Humanoid Robot Games, featuring hundreds of teams from 16 countries competing in 26 sporting events. The event drew international media coverage and demonstrated global interest in humanoid robot athletics.
Revenue Model Extends Beyond Ticket Sales
REK’s business operations include multiple revenue streams beyond event ticket sales. The company records fights for distribution through streaming platforms and creates highlight content for social media engagement.
As events scale, the company has indicated interest from brands seeking sponsorship opportunities. The REK TEK control system has potential applications in industrial robotics and training simulations beyond entertainment uses.
Future Plans Include Larger Venues and Seasonal Competition
Following the successful completion of the REK America tour, the company is evaluating expansion to larger venues. With consistent sell-outs at 2,500-person capacity locations, REK representatives have discussed the possibility of 5,000-10,000 seat arenas.
The company has also referenced plans for seasonal competition structures with rankings and championships, moving beyond one off events to ongoing league style operations. International expansion to Europe, Asia, and other regions is under consideration.
Liv has stated in media interviews that his long term goal is to create robot boxing as a mainstream sport comparable to the vision depicted in the 2011 film “Real Steel,” which featured robot boxing as a major professional sport.
Industry Context: Humanoid Robots in 2025
REK’s growth occurs amid broader developments in humanoid robot sports. In 2025, multiple humanoid robots completed the Beijing Half Marathon alongside human competitors (April), the world’s first humanoid boxing competition took place in Hangzhou, China (May), and fully autonomous soccer matches were demonstrated in Beijing (June).
In October, Toyota’s CUE6 humanoid robot set a Guinness World Record for the longest basketball shot by a humanoid robot at 24.55 meters. The Chinese government has invested significantly in domestic AI and robotics development, with the Bank of China committing one trillion yuan to chip and AI startup technology in January 2025.
Industry analysts project the wider humanoid robot sector could reach $5 trillion in value by 2050, driven by applications in manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and entertainment.
Public Response Indicates Sustained Interest
Venue operators and event organizers reported diverse audience demographics at REK events, spanning multiple age groups and backgrounds. The consistent sell-out performance across geographically and culturally distinct US cities suggests broad appeal rather than niche or regional interest.
Social media engagement around REK events has included fan created content, tactical analysis of fight footage, and community discussion forums dedicated to robot combat. The company has shared behind the scenes content and technical explanations to maintain audience engagement between events.
What’s Next for REK
With the conclusion of the REK America tour, the company is positioned to expand operations. The combination of proven market demand, active recruitment of additional staff, and growing mainstream attention to humanoid robotics suggests potential for scaling beyond the initial five city format.
Whether robot combat evolves into a mainstream entertainment category with professional leagues and major venue bookings, or remains a specialized attraction within the broader robotics and entertainment industries, will depend on sustained audience interest and continued technical development.
For those interested in careers in humanoid combat sports, REK’s website currently has a range of job openings advertised.
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