The match was organised recently in San Francisco by US-based robotics company REK as part of a project exploring virtual reality gaming in which humans can remotely control humanoid robots and compete against one another.

Viral footage of the event has since taken social media by storm, showing influencer and content creator Frankie LaPenna battling the humanoid robot in front of a cheering crowd.

The robot was seen warming up like a professional fighter before the match began.

Once the fight started, LaPenna threw punches at the robot, which retaliated with kicks. The machine appeared to deliver several powerful blows during the unusual clash, highlighting the force and physical capabilities of the humanoid robot.

REK later described the event as a historic moment in a post on X.

“We just made history with the first Human VS Terminator robot fight,” the company said.

The footage quickly sparked debate online, with social media users discussing how a professional fighter might fare against the machine and questioning whether conventional fighting techniques would work against a robot.

“I’m curious how an actual fighter would do against this. I feel a pro would do much better,” one user commented.

Another user wrote: “See, the problem here is that the dude went at it like he was fighting another person. He’s not fighting another person. He’s fighting a robot. Punching a robot to score points isn’t going to do anything.”

The unusual contest has since gone viral, with the human-versus-robot showdown prompting comparisons with scenes from science-fiction films and renewed interest in the possibilities of remotely controlled humanoid robots.