A fighting tournament organized by EngineAI took place in China, gathering thirty-two teams from around the world. The event, named Ultimate Robot Knock-out Legend, was held on July 16th in Shenzhen.
According to the established rules, only T800 model androids developed by EngineAI were permitted in the competition. During one of the matches, an incident occurred: after a strong blow and subsequent fall, the head of one of the androids detached.
Despite damage to some sensors, the robot was able to continue participating in the fight. EngineAI subsequently posted a compilation of the most exciting moments of this competition on its YouTube channel.
The T800 android was introduced by the Chinese startup EngineAI in 2025. This robot is capable of demonstrating highly dynamic movements, with a speed comparable to that of a human. The physical parameters of the T800 include a height of 173 centimeters and a mass of 75 kilograms.
The tournament organized by EngineAI is not the first competition for humanoid robots in the ring. Previously, in May 2025, the Chinese manufacturer and robot developer Unitree Robotics held boxing matches between Unitree G1 androids.
Furthermore, the company Figure from California presented an improved version of its universal control system, Helix 02, for humanoid robots. This system allows a single neural network to control not only the actions of the arms but also balance, movement, and interaction with the environment, using data from all the robot's sensors.
Thanks to this approach, the Figure 03 robot can perform prolonged tasks in uncertain conditions without human intervention. For example, in the video shown, it independently loaded and unloaded a dishwasher in the kitchen for four minutes, coordinating the movements of its entire body and limbs. The architecture of this new system was described in the company's blog.
Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel of the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe team celebrated his victory on the podium after winning Stage 16 of the 113th Tour de France. The Olympic champion delivered an impressive performance in the 26.1 km individual time trial on Tuesday.
Evenepoel managed to significantly reduce Tadej Pogačar's overall lead. The 26-year-old Belgian beat the reigning champion Pogačar, who finished second, by 28 seconds over the stage route along Lake Geneva. All other participants finished more than a minute behind.
Third place was taken by Dane Mathias Skjelmose, finishing with a margin of 1 minute and 04 seconds. This outstanding performance by the world and Olympic champion in the time trial, held on Belgium's national holiday, allowed Evenepoel to reduce Pogačar's overall advantage to 4 minutes and 32 seconds.
Evenepoel noted the special nature of the event, saying: 'It's amazing, it was a very good time trial, there were many people on the roadside.' He also emphasized the significance of the moment, mentioning that his family was present, and added that winning on a national day is particularly important because 'Belgium hasn't won on National Day for a long time, so I am proud to be one of them.'
This victory marks the second consecutive stage won by Evenepoel, following his triumph on the mountainous Stage 15 on Sunday. Overall, this is his fourth win in the Tour de France and his third in time trials. Furthermore, he increased the gap to third place, held by Isaac Del Toro, by more than two minutes.
However, the day proved difficult for Evenepoel's teammate from Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, Florian Lipovic. Two days after twice former winner Jonas Vingegaard withdrew from the race, holding second overall, the German Lipovic crashed heavily at a corner and was forced to leave the competition. Before the accident, he was in fifth place overall and set the fourth fastest time among the three intermediate checkpoints.
Minutes after the fall, Lipovic was transported by medical vehicle, holding his left arm. Evenepoel expressed sympathy for his teammate, stating: 'It's very unfortunate, it feels like a bitter pill to swallow with this victory, so I wish him all the best and hope everything is not too bad.'
It was reported that both Pogačar and Del Toro experienced excitement while passing the same corner where Lipovic fell, but they managed to stay upright.
From the start of the time trial, it was clear that Evenepoel was aiming for something special. When the top ten contenders started the race against the clock, Skjelmose set the fastest time, ahead of the others. Lipovic, Del Toro, and French teenager Paul Seix were only a few seconds behind at the three checkpoints.
But when Evenepoel passed the first checkpoint, it became clear that he was riding at a different pace. Only Pogačar could stay within reach, but he was seven seconds behind at the first checkpoint, while Skjelmose was 22 seconds behind. These gaps increased to 14 seconds and 56 seconds at the second checkpoint. It was on the climb of the course that Evenepoel managed to gain most of his time.
On the subsequent descent and flat section to the finish, he gained only eight seconds on Skjelmose, 10 seconds on Seix, and 13 seconds on Pogačar. Red Bull sporting director Klaas Lodewijk commented: 'I think it was a very good execution from start to finish; he had good control.' He also noted: 'It's mixed feelings. We are thrilled with Remco's victory, but Lipovic's loss is a serious blow to the team.'
The Lions team is facing a difficult task of balancing its squad within the Currie Cup tournament amid the upcoming visit of the All Blacks. Although attention is focused on the Currie Cup, four South African franchises are beginning to feel the pressure associated with the greatest rivalry in rugby (RGR).
The Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers have scheduled matches against the All Blacks next month. The Cape Town-based team will host the New Zealanders first on August 7th at the Cape Town Stadium. This will be followed by games against the Sharks and Bulls; the first match of the series is set for August 22nd, and the final tour match against the Lions is scheduled for the following Tuesday, after which the remaining three matches will take place.
The Stormers' match is just over two weeks away, and how the franchises balance their current obligations in the Currie Cup with their plans for the pre-season United Rugby Championship (URC) will be crucial for being able to play a respectable match against a strong opponent.
The young Currie Cup Lions team was actively preparing for its Day 2 match against the Pumas at Ellis Park on Saturday (starting at 15:00). Meanwhile, the URC squad is resting this week and will return next week to continue pre-season preparation.
In their opening tournament match, the Lions narrowly lost to the Free State Cheetahs with a score of 29-27, but this occurred with a relatively inexperienced 23-man squad. The squad included only players such as prop Morgan Naude and Conrad van Nieuwen, lock Ruan Delport, forwards Renzo du Plessis and Jarrod Cairns, halfback Sam Francis, winger Rabz Maxweyn, and centre Rinehardt Jonker.
In upcoming games, they will likely select mostly the same team, but there are already several players who can be used in the RGR match. On Tuesday, coach Mzwakhe Nkosi announced that they will continue to play with the current squad in the coming weeks, as player development is a key goal during this Cup campaign.
Nkosi stated: 'As we did in the last three Currie Cups, overall we will be playing with these guys.' He added: 'Part of the job here is introducing these guys to top-class rugby. We had many guys who performed excellently at the Under-23 level and deserve a chance. They are good enough to succeed.' He continued that they surrounded these players with several experienced athletes, such as du Plessis, Cairns, Maxweyn, Delport, and others like them, and hope that such an environment will yield a good result.
Nevertheless, Nkosi noted: 'Speaking of which, a large number of guys are training in the pre-season for the URC and RGR. Seeing the All Blacks, it won't be an easy game either. Dave (Rennie) is the new coach, so many guys will be trying to make an impression. This will be an important game for us, and we must try to field the best team the franchise can provide.'
It is understood that the Lions might be further strengthened for the RGR match due to the possible return of halfback Morne van den Berg and fullback Quan Horn. Both players are seeking game time—the former returns from a biceps injury, and the latter continues his preparation with the Springboks.
However, complicating the planning for the coming weeks is that the Lions will play against the Boland on August 14th, and then against the Sharks on Friday, August 21st. They will have two matches to potentially showcase more URC players, but they will also have to consider the very quick turnaround after the Durban game, which raises concerns about injuries.
Furthermore, both of these matches could determine their Currie Cup campaign, especially the fixture against the Sharks, so juggling priorities in the coming weeks will be a difficult task. Ultimately, they will have to choose between advancing in the Cup or achieving a respectable result against the second All Blacks team, which will still be formidable.
Lionel Messi reached out on social media following Argentina's painful 1-0 defeat by Spain in extra time of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. His long-time partner, Antonela Roccuzzo, quickly reminded the world of his true greatness.
As Lionel Messi accepted Argentina's loss in the World Cup final, millions of fans worldwide supported the football legend. His emotional Instagram post sparked a wave of support, with fans thanking him for years of unforgettable moments and praising his leadership, resilience, and long-term impact on the game.
Sharing a picture of himself with the silver medal, the 39-year-old player shared sincere reflections on the weight of consecutively missing World Cup titles. Messi wrote: 'The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal.' He continued that he values all the good things, including the matches that were turned around through complete dedication, and the support of the entire country, which, along with the team's efforts, returned them to the elite of world football.
He noted: 'It is difficult to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this team has reached two consecutive World Cup finals.'
Despite the deep sadness of the moment, Messi expressed gratitude to the national fanbase that supported La Albiceleste (the Argentine national team) throughout the North American campaign. He thanked everyone for their greetings and messages, noting that they were able to reunite as a nation, sharing Argentine pride.
Demonstrating class in defeat, Messi concluded his post by congratulating the new champions: 'I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.'
Messi's messages highlighted the outstanding stability of a generation that reached two consecutive global finals, guiding Argentina through numerous victories. His post was met with a flood of supportive messages from teammates, colleagues, and millions of fans. One fan wrote: 'Thank you for everything, Leo. I wish you eternal. You made us so happy all these years.' Another commented: 'Thank you for the joy you brought us. You are the greatest in the game of football.' A third advised: 'Keep your head high; reaching another World Cup final was amazing. It shouldn't have happened this time, but Argentina showed fight and determination throughout the tournament. You gave it your all, thank you, Leo.'
Shortly after publishing his message, Messi's wife, model and entrepreneur Antonela Roccuzzo, posted a touching tribute to her husband's resilience and family legacy on her account. Sharing her devotion, Roccuzzo emphasized that true success goes beyond lifting trophies. She wrote: 'You will always be the best, @leomessi,' adding that this is related not only to talent but also to the fact that he never stopped being himself, always fighting until the very end.
This sincere exchange between the couple underscores the strong family foundation that has supported Messi throughout his historic career. Messi and Roccuzzo, who met in childhood in Rosario, Argentina, married in 2017 and raise three sons: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. As the team leaves the venue and players return to normal life after the intense tournament, the couple's public messages serve as a reminder that match results are recorded in the books of history, while character and family legacy endure much longer.
