BattleBots

Robots, activate.

Hey, everybody, and welcome to BattleBots,

your number one destination for the finest in mechanical madness.

I am Chris Rose and joined by my partner in crime,

UFC legend and top tier robot fighting analyst, say hello to Kenny Florian.

Thanks, Chris, I'm so excited to be here on night two

of the 2021 BattleBots world championship tournament.

Last time, we watched eight teams stamp

their passports to the second round.

Among them, the number one seed End Game

and, Kenny, the defending champs scored a knockout victory

in just 56 seconds while taking almost no damage at all.

That's right, Chris, and that is something to look out

for tonight in a field chockful of deadly weapons.

It's not just about winning here in the tournament,

it's about keeping your robot intact

and firing on all cylinders as you advance.

Tonight, the 16 remaining teams in quadrants

two and three will look to do just that in the hope of moving

one step closer to hoisting the most prestigious trophy

in all of robot combat, the giant nut!

Let's take another look at the bracket and preview tonight's action

we're gonna flip it around for you at home to make it easier to follow

the legendary Tombstone enters as the 23 seed after an up and down year.

But former champion Ray Billings says you've never seen

a 23 seed hit as hard as I d

throw the numbers out the window when Tombstone enters the box.

Standing in its way the hometown favorite Jackpot

5-0 all time in the qualifiers,

but still hunting for its first ever tournament win.

Can the boys from Las Vegas live up to their top 10 billing?

We're going to find out.

And in a showdown th may just shake the arena to its foundation,

the 14 seed Cobalt will collide with the sultan of smash,

the 19th ranked, Yeti.

My goodness, what a matchup, two kinetic weapons,

two fearless drivers, and a panel of three judges

that can probably sit this one out.

One of these robots is leaving in a body bag,

But to kick things off,

it's a battle for the number 31 seed.

As Hydra takes on defender in a high stakes play-in match.

Winner will face the number seed Ribbot at the end of the night.

Are you guys ready?

Faruq, take it away.

Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?

It's robot fighting time!

In the red square, I look at this bot's name

and I'm like, "I see what you did there."

Most bots call themselves something aggressive, it's a tactic to scare.

He could have went with doomsday or grim reaper,

but this name makes sense because after he kills you, he can claim self-defense.

Give it up for defender!

And here comes the Vasquez clan and team defender

looking for a win and a tick to the round of 32.

Kenny, how does Jason Vasquez approach fighting a bot as powerful as Hydra?

Well, he's going with the same fork configuration

that his brother Matt used to beat Hydra with Whiplash

in last year's quarterfinals

now, Jason doesn't have the driving experience that Matty does,

but if he can manage to get underneath Hydra with those forks,

that could be a game changer

In the blue square, straight out of Wisconsin,

the home of the cheeseheads, when this bot sees a fight,

he just thinks, "yeah, he's dead."

He flips a bot farther than an Aaron Rodgers throw,

tells his enemies, "packer your bags 'cause you're going home."

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome...

Hydra!

After going one and two in the qualifiers,

last year's number one seed is now fighting for his tournament life,

Jake Ewert still cracking that sarcastic smile, Kenny

he's been wrestling gremlin all season long,

trying to get Hydra flipping on all cylinders.

Yeah, he's got a little bit of a smile,

but he doesn't have a big smile

because he's been really upset at this robot.

Been very frustrated in the pits.

Can't figure out what the issues are.

Jake's going with a brand-new frame tonight.

He's completely rebuilt the robot, so we'll see,

it's win this fight or pack and head back to Wisconsin.

Okay.

We are moments away from lighting this candle.

And remember, be sure to head over to BattleBots. C

to fill out your tournament brackets

and keep up with all of tonight's action.

Yeah, Hydra.

These two were part of a logjam of talent

vying for a spot in the top this season.

The selection committee said you know what, fight for it

winner gets the 31st seed and will face Ribbot.

Let the play match begin.

Defender got stuck on the BattleBots floor

and Hydra took advantage of it.

Hydra lost one of those long front fork in the process, Chris.

Whiffed a big flip opportunity there

oh! It missed that one.

That's what they're looking for, both these robots,

Chris, are so low to the ground,

they're getting caught up on the BattleBots floor.

Even so, it's Hydra that's winning the battle

for low ground here in the early going

in terms of getting underneath defender.

But I think you're right, Kenny, Hydra's mobility

looks to be compromised a bit here.

Jake Ewert can't be happy with that.

Oh!

I think he likes that though.

Already, two of the better flips this season out of Hydra,

defender has got to be careful here.

Looks like Hydra kind of let defender off the hook there,

kind of waited for him to self-right,

could have gone right back in there for another shot.

Whoa!

Serious air time. An defender

landed on top of the pulverizing to boot.

Defender is still moving.

But barely. Hydra's got it cornered right in front

of the driver shaft. Took the BattleBot sign off with that flip.

Hey, we're gonna put that on your tab, Jake Ewert.

I think that flip may have destroyed that grapple

on the top of defender. Landed right on it, Chris.

Defender is still able to move for now.

Can it find a way to turn the tide?

Oh, I think Hydra wants to flip it out.

Hydra trying to flip defender out of the arena.

Defender hanging in, though, Jake Ewert needs to finish the job.

You can't take any chances here in the tournament.

Oh!

On top of the upper deck.

Oh, that's it.

Yeah, and defender will not be able to right itself.

And it is gasping for air.

And that's why this shelf sucks because I can't play with my toy anymore.

Jake Ewert talking trash to the camera

why not, my man?

Ten, nine...

Jason Vasquez can on smile as he waves goodbye

to his hopes and dreams this 2021 season.

And that's a knockout.

Hydra is moving on to the round of 32.

Well, Hydra back working.

Yeah, that was awesome.

Hydra just kind of waited for defender, had his moments,

getting underneath him right there.

That's some serious air.

And that is a 250-pound robot

getting tossed 12 feet high people.

Let that sink in.

Jason Vasquez was just outmatched here, Chris.

Give credit to defender for hanging in and looking durable,

but Hydra airlines was in full effect in this one.

Yeah, there's a lot bots that have gotten

frequent flyer miles, courtesy of that one.

And then the finishing shot get on up there and just chill.

Hey, Jake.

Hi, guys.

Now that's how it's supposed to work.

So when you're seeing your opponent fly through the air,

how much fun are you having?

I went really, really slow and methodical.

I didn't want to, like, do anything silly

and let them underneath me,

so that's why I was missing a lot.

Well, Jake, you had to earn your way just to get into the round of 32

for all the people back in the pits that have counted out Hydra,

what do you have to say to them?

You know, you should never.

Eventually, it's gonna work, right?

And then it does that.

So I mean.

In your eyes, are you still the favorite to win the giant nut?

If I can beat Ribbot, I mean, I'd take the number two seed over

and then it should be pretty clear sailing from there, right?

- Wow. - So that's...

That's actually a really good spot for me.

All right, Jake, we'll see you later taking on Ribbot.

Thanks, guys.

So, Jake Ewert handles his business

and flips Hydra into the round of 32.

Stay tuned for his showdown with David Jin and Ribbot

at the end of the night.

For young Jason Vasquez, wanted to spread his wings

this year and he did just that.

We say goodbye for now, but I'm sure we'll see him lending a helping hand

to team Whiplash as they begin their tournament run.

Coming up, the round of 32 kicks back into high gear

as the master of the massacre Cobalt throws down with the frozen behemoth yet

that's the 19 versus

14 mashup, and it's coming your way next on BattleBot.

Welcome back to the BattleBots world championship tournament.

Round of 32 continues right now as we head

to quadrant number 3 for a matchup between the 14th seed Cobalt

and the 19th seed Yeti.

Let's start with Cobalt.

First fight didn't go as planned.

Second fight goes for after it, they're still scraping

that thing off the floor as we speak.

And then in their last fight they did things to Gruff that