In a spectacle that combined artificial intelligence with combat sports, four humanoid robots powered by AI squared off in a unique kickboxing tournament as part of the World Robot Competition Mecha Fighting Series, according to a May 26 report from the China state-owned outlet the Global Times.
Developed by Chinese robotics firm Unitree, the bots — weighing 35 kilograms and standing 132 centimetres tall — battled it out in a human-machine collaboration, where human operators controlled robots pre-programmed with fighting techniques—the match format featured three two-minute rounds with winners determined by a points-based scoring system.
🤖 China hosted the world’s first #humanoid robot fighting competition, the CMG World #Robot Competition. Four teams and their #UnitreeG1 robots duked it out in a globally live-streamed event! 🥊pic.twitter.com/vkODcSbPoQ
— Chinese Embassy in US (@ChineseEmbinUS) May 26, 2025
Points were awarded based on combat precision: one point for a punch to the head, three for a head kick. Penalties were also enforced — five points were deducted if a robot fell, and a ten-point loss was imposed if a bot stayed down for more than eight seconds.
Before the main event, robots showcased their agility through kicking and punching drills, which helped finalize competition rules. Each robot utilized an AI motion learning model based on professional fighters. The opening bouts featured a pink-helmeted robot facing a black-helmeted opponent, where the latter, despite an early fall, won with a front kick knockdown and pin. Another robot in red was eliminated, leading to a final showdown between the black and green bots.
In a hard-fought finale, the black-donned robot triumphed, securing the champion title by outscoring its green rival.
Unitree director Wang Qixin, speaking during a live stream on CCTV, highlighted the company’s innovative use of AI in robot training.
“First of all, the motion capture will be based on some professional fighting athletes. Based on their motion capture data, the robot will learn these movements in the virtual world,”
he explained.
Meanwhile, Nvidia is reportedly preparing to roll out a new, lower-cost artificial intelligence chip tailored for the Chinese market as it navigates tightened U.S. export restrictions on its high-end models.
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