The eleventh season of the American competitive television series BattleBots premiered on Discovery Channel on January 6, 2022. This is the fourth season of Battlebots to premiere on Discovery Channel and the sixth season since the show was rebooted in 2015. The show continued to use their modified logo, with a pair of "B"'s, making a "BB" logo atop the term "BATTLEBOTS", as well as the subtitle, "Fight Night" for qualifying rounds.[1]
BattleBots | |
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Season 11 | |
No. of episodes | 14 |
Release | |
Original network | Discovery Science |
Original release | January 6 April 7, 2022 | –
Season chronology | |
MLB/NFL Sportscaster Chris Rose and former UFC fighter Kenny Florian return to host for the eleventh season, as well as arena announcer Faruq Tauheed and "Bot Whisperer" Pete Abrahamson.[1]
Brand new this season, in the ever evolving sport of combat robotics, the BattleBox changes with the inclusion of an "upper deck", complete with its own set of spinning saw blades, totally adds new geometry angles to the playing surface.
Also new for this season, BattleBots has changed locations from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, now known as "The Fight Capital of the World".
Filming
editThe matches took place between Monday, August 23, 2021, culminating on September 4, 2021. Qualifying fights took place on August 23, 24, 27, and 28, with two fight cards each day from 12 pm-4 pm and 6 pm-10 pm. Tournament rounds took place on August 29 and 31, and September 2, 3, and 4. As with the qualifying rounds, there were two rounds of fights each day at the same times as the qualifiers.[2]
Caesars Entertainment Studios, at 4165 Koval Lane, was the new venue for the battlebox and the pits. Previously, competitions had taken place in the former Boeing Post 52 building at the Long Beach Airport.
Judges
editThis season, the judges score on an 11-point scale: 5 points for damage; 3 points for aggression; and 3 points for control.
The current judges are: former BattleBots contenders, Derek Young, Lisa Winter, and Jason Bardis.
Contestants
editThis season marked the 22nd year of the BattleBots competition. The lineup features 62 of the best heavyweight robots to fight head-to-head in the Battle Arena.
Every team will fight up to three times in the qualifying rounds. Their goal is to earn a spot in the top 32 in the winner-take-all championship tournament and ultimately become the 2021 BattleBots World Champion.
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Seeding
edit- End Game (3-0)
- Ribbot (3-0)
- Whiplash (2-0)
- Sawblaze (2-1)
- Uppercut (2-0)
- Rotator (2-0)
- Blip (3-0)
- Copperhead (2-0)
- Mammoth (1-2) * In replacement For Glitch
- Jackpot (2-0) (Home Team)
- Tantrum (2-0)
- Shatter! (2-0)
- Hypershock (2-0)
- Cobalt (2-1)
- Madcatter (2-1)
- Minotaur (2-1)
- Bloodsport (2-1)
- Black Dragon(2-1)
- Yeti (2-1)
- P1 (2-1)
- Riptide (2-1)
- Gigabyte (2-1)
- Tombstone (2-1)
- Witch Doctor (2-1)
- Lucky (2-1)
- Valkyrie (2-1)
- Captain Shrederator (2-1)
- HUGE (2-1)
- HiJinx (2-1)
- Icewave (2-1)
- Hydra (1-2) vs. Defender (2-1)
- Skorpios (1-2) vs. Malice (1-2)
Tournament bracket
editKnockout stage
editNotes
edit'* Glitch was the #9 seed set to fight Witch Doctor but had to withdraw due to mechanical issues.
Episodes
editNo. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
159 | 1 | "Slash and Burn!" | January 6, 2022 | 0.954[3] | |
BattleBots enters a new stage of evolution with a major change in the BattleBox and a move to Las Vegas. Top robot teams from all over the world return to compete in the 11th season of "robot fighting time" for a chance to win the Giant Nut. Two O.G. bot builders begin with their first meeting. A rookie team with a 'switch' weapon makes their debut, and the first BattleBots international champs face-off with the deadliest flipper bot. Fight Card: Sawblaze vs. Minotaur; Uppercut vs. Gigabyte; Switchback vs. Gruff; Captain Shrederator vs. Tombstone; Free Shipping vs. Blacksmith; Pain Train vs. Deep Six; Main Event: Hydra vs. End Game; YouTube exclusive: Deadlift vs. JackPot The winners were SawBlaze (UD), Uppercut (KO), Gruff (KO), Captain Shrederator (KO), Blacksmith (UD), Deep Six (KO), and End Game (KO). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was JackPot (UD) | |||||
160 | 2 | "I Like Big Bots (That Will Not Die)" | January 13, 2022 | 0.819[4] | |
It's week two of BattleBots with 14 bots enter the arena to do even more damage in Sin City. An Alpine legend comes out of retirement to rumble with the "gritty kitty". A clash of the titans match between an improved Mammoth and the biggest horizontal spinner bot. The "little junkyard bot that could" fights in its sophomore season versus the first flex-wheel flipper bot. And a bloody bot tries to carve up last year's runner-up. Fight Card: Yeti vs. MadCatter; Defender vs. Ribbot; HiJinx vs. Mammoth; Rotator vs. Kraken; Blip vs. Rusty; Tantrum vs. Malice; Main Event: Bloodsport vs. Whiplash; YouTube exclusive: SubZero vs. Shatter The winners were MadCatter (KO), Ribbot (KO), Mammoth (KO), Rotator (UD), Blip (KO), Tantrum (UD), and Whiplash (KO). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was Shatter (UD) | |||||
161 | 3 | "Ducks, Dragons, Killer Snakes – What a Zoo!" | January 20, 2022 | 0.820[5] | |
More killer bots make their season debut in Las Vegas' new BattleBox. The "serrated slasher", Cobalt makes its return, as well as veterans Duck! and Icewave after years of not competing. While last season's most destructive bot, Valkyrie, the Brazilian beast, Black Dragon, and fan-favorite voodoo bot, Witch Doctor all must prove they are the best of the heaviest hitters. Fight Card: HyperShock vs. Slammo!; Valkyrie vs. P1; HUGE vs. Riptide; Fusion vs. Cobalt; Black Dragon vs. Icewave; Witch Doctor vs. DUCK!; Main Event: Copperhead vs. Lock-Jaw; YouTube exclusive: Claw Viper vs. Pardon My French The winners were HyperShock (KO), P1 (UD), Riptide (KO), Fusion (KO), Black Dragon (KO), Witch Doctor (UD), and Copperhead (SD). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was Claw Viper (KO) | |||||
162 | 4 | "Out With the Old" | January 27, 2022 | 0.814[6] | |
Five of the seven match-ups feature teams who are looking to jump to a perfect start with a 2–0 record, while a couple of returning bots make it back into the BattleBox for the first time in years. Other bots seek redemption from their first fights losses. And two rookies make their BattleBots debuts against some seasoned veterans. Fight card: Malice vs. JackPot; Ribbot vs. Overhaul; Blade vs. Skorpios; Tombstone vs. Mammoth; Lucky vs. Tantrum; Ghost Raptor vs. Glitch; Main Event: SawBlaze vs. MadCatter; YouTube exclusive: Retrograde vs. Rampage The winners were JackPot (KO), Ribbot (KO), Skorpios (UD), Tombstone (UD), Tantrum (KO), Glitch (UD), and SawBlaze (KO). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was Retrograde (KO) | |||||
163 | 5 | "Let's Uppercut to the Chase!" | February 3, 2022 | 0.882[7] | |
A hand-ful of teams are already facing the prospect of becoming winless and try to avoid an 0-and-2 start. The number one flipper takes on an indestructible flaming bot. Then it's the battle of the full-body spinner bots. Two rookies make their debut; one a multi-bot and the other a "slayer" bot. In the main event, last year's champion goes up against the fan-favorite bot with one of the most violent weapons that was the runner-up two seasons ago. Fight Card: Free Shipping vs. Uppercut; Blacksmith vs. Shatter!; Jäger vs. P1; Hydra vs. Gruff; Gigabyte vs. Captain Shrederator; Dragon Slayer vs. Duck!; Main Event: End Game vs. Witch Doctor; YouTube exclusive: Valkyrie vs. Triple Crown The winners were Uppercut (KO), Shatter! (UD), P1 (KO), Hydra (KO), Gigabyte (KO), Dragon Slayer (UD), and End Game (KO). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was Valkyrie (KO) | |||||
164 | 6 | "Bigger Than Bots" | February 10, 2022 | 0.649[8] | |
The second half of the World Championship qualifiers begin. Teams with a record of 0–1 or 1–0 face-off for the prospect of a slot in the final 32 of the tournament. Perhaps a bit early for that, but many perennial favorites fight for their BattleBots life. Fight Card: Rotator vs. Black Dragon; Lucky vs. Blade; Dragon Slayer vs. Minotaur; Pain Train vs. Yeti; HiJinx vs. Kraken; Defender vs. Riptide; Main Event: HyperShock vs. Lock-Jaw; YouTube exclusive: Deep Six vs. SMEEEEEEEEEEE The winners were Rotator (UD), Lucky (KO), Minotaur (KO), Yeti (KO), Hijinx (UD), Defender (UD), and HyperShock (KO). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was SMEEEEEEEEEEE (KO) | |||||
165 | 7 | "Edges, Wedges and Wheels" | February 17, 2022 | 0.660[9] | |
Another group of 1–0 bots look to separate themselves from the rest of pack in the qualifiers. Two of the best bot drivers square-off against each other in Main Event. Fight Card: Bloodsport vs. SubZero; Cobalt vs. Ghost Raptor; Icewave vs. Deadlift; Blip vs. Overhaul; HUGE vs. Retrograde; Copperhead vs. Fusion; Main Event: Whiplash vs. Skorpios; YouTube exclusive: Switchback vs. Slammo! The winners were Bloodsport (KO), Cobalt (KO), Icewave (KO), Blip (KO), HUGE (KO), Copperhead (KO), and Whiplash (SD). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was Switchback (KO) | |||||
166 | 8 | "Flip the Script" | February 24, 2022 | 0.739[10] | |
Shocking upsets shake up the entire competition. And with the World Championship looming, it's the last chance for many teams to make a statement that they belong in the Round of 64. Fight Card: Malice vs. Blacksmith; Black Dragon vs. Claw Viper; Gigabyte vs. SMEEEEEEEEEEEEE; Glitch vs. Hydra; Tombstone vs. Free Shipping; Ribbot vs. P1, Main Event: End Game vs. SawBlaze; YouTube exclusive: Captain Shrederator vs. Jäger The winners were Malice (UD), Black Dragon (KO), Gigabyte (KO), Glitch (KO), Tombstone (UD), Ribbot (KO), and End Game (KO). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was Captain Shrederator (KO) | |||||
167 | 9 | "Put Up or Shut Up" | March 3, 2022 | 0.692[11] | |
The penultimate week of the qualifying round has fourteen of the field’s most destructive bots vying for a kick at The Giant Nut! In a tactically tantalizing Main Event two of the most aggressive drivers duke it out in a clash between Skorpios and Yeti! Fight Card: Gruff vs. Cobalt; DUCK! vs. Riptide; Valkyrie vs. Pardon My French; Lock-Jaw vs. Blip; Minotaur vs. Deep Six; SubZero vs. HiJinx, Main Event: Yeti vs. Skorpios; YouTube exclusive: Defender vs. Retrograde The winners were Cobalt (KO), Riptide (KO), Valkyrie (KO), Blip (UD), Minotaur (KO), HiJinx (KO), and Yeti (SD). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was Defender (UD) | |||||
168 | 10 | "To The Victor, Go the Spoils" | March 10, 2022 | 0.748[12] | |
It's the Selection Show! The Qualifying Rounds wrap up with 7 must-win matchups, as many fan faves try to secure a spot in the World Championship Tournament. At the end of the night, the field for the Round of 32 is revealed. Fight Card: Bloodsport vs. Claw Viper; MadCatter vs. Rampage; HUGE vs. Switchback; Kraken vs. Glitch; Mammoth vs. Lucky; Rusty vs. Witch Doctor, Main Event: Fusion vs. Icewave; YouTube exclusive: Blade vs. Dragon Slayer The winners were Bloodsport (UD), MadCatter (KO), HUGE (KO), Glitch (KO), Lucky (KO), Witch Doctor (KO), and Icewave (KO). The winner of the YouTube exclusive was Blade (KO) | |||||
169 | 11 | "Let the Tournament Begin!" | March 17, 2022 | 0.725[13] | |
The World Championship Tournament has arrived! Only one team will hoist the most coveted trophy in the sport, the Giant Nut. The defending champions, End Game, are ready to defend their crown, but a stacked group of contenders aren't backing down. Fight Card: #12 Shatter! vs. #21 Riptide; #13 Hypershock vs. #20 P1; #32 Skorpios vs. #32 Malice; #16 Minotaur vs. #17 Bloodsport; #4 SawBlaze vs. #29 HiJinx; #24 Witch Doctor vs. #9 Mammoth; #32 Skorpios vs. #1 End Game; YouTube exclusives: #5 Uppercut vs. #28 HUGE; #8 Copperhead vs. #25 Lucky The winners were Riptide (KO, 69 seconds), P1 (UD), Skorpios (UD), Minotaur (UD), SawBlaze (UD), Witch Doctor (KO, 53 seconds), and End Game (KO, 57 seconds). The winners of the YouTube exclusives were Uppercut (UD) and Copperhead (UD) | |||||
170 | 12 | "8 Down, 8 to Go" | March 24, 2022 | 0.745[14] | |
It's all on the line for 16 killer bots as the round of 32 concludes. Spinners, lifters and flippers battle for survival in their quest for the ultimate prize: the Giant Nut! Fight Card: #31 Defender vs. #31 Hydra; #14 Cobalt vs. #19 Yeti; #10 Jackpot vs. #23 Tombstone; #15 MadCatter vs. #18 Black Dragon; #7 Blip vs. #26 Valkyrie; #11 Tantrum vs. #22 Gigabyte; #2 Ribbot vs. #31 Hydra; YouTube exclusives: #3 Whiplash vs. #30 Icewave; #27 Captain Shrederator vs. #6 Rotator The winners were Hydra (KO, 129 seconds), Cobalt (KO, 93 seconds), Jackpot (KO, 40 seconds), Black Dragon (SD), Blip (KO, 174 seconds), Tantrum (UD), and Hydra (KO, 124 seconds). The winners of the YouTube exclusives were Whiplash (KO, 58 seconds) and Rotator (KO, 76 seconds) | |||||
171 | 13 | "Round of 16" | March 31, 2022 | 0.789[15] | |
The march towards The Giant Nut rages on as the final 16 bots fight for survival! The best of the best are left, but only eight will survive tonight to face the ultimate conflict. Fight Card: #21 Riptide vs. #5 Uppercut; #11 Tantrum vs. #6 Rotator; #7 Blip vs. #10 JackPot; #31 Hydra vs. #18 Black Dragon; #24 Witch Doctor vs. #8 Copperhead; #20 P1 vs. #4 SawBlaze; #3 Whiplash vs. #14 Cobalt; and #16 Minotaur vs. #1 End Game The winners were Riptide (KO, 69 seconds), Tantrum (KO, 179 seconds), Blip (KO, 62 seconds), Hydra (UD), Witch Doctor (KO, 60 seconds), SawBlaze (UD), Cobalt (SD) and Minotaur (UD) | |||||
172 | 14 | "Battlebots: The Finals" | April 7, 2022 | 0.769[16] | |
By the end of tonight's season finale, a new team will hoist the Giant Nut and be crowned BattleBots World Champion. It's winner takes all, as the final eight bots face off in the ultimate robotic fight to the death. Fight Card (quarter finals): #21 Riptide vs. #4 SawBlaze; #14 Cobalt vs. #11 Tantrum; #7 Blip vs. #31 Hydra; #24 Witch Doctor vs. #16 Minotaur. (semifinals): #31 Hydra vs. #11 Tantrum; #4 SawBlaze vs. #24 Witch Doctor. (Final) #24 Witch Doctor vs. #11 Tantrum. The winners of the quarter-finals were SawBlaze (KO, 98 seconds), Tantrum (KO, 95 seconds), Hydra (KO, 63 seconds), and Witch Doctor (UD). The winners of the semi-finals were Tantrum (SD) and Witch Doctor (KO, 65 seconds). The Giant Bolt Award winners were Hypershock (Most Destructive), SawBlaze (Founders Award), Glitch & Riptide (Best Newcomer), and Blip (Grant Imahara Award) (Best Design). The 2022 BattleBots World Champion is Tantrum (KO, 173 seconds). |
References
edit- ^ a b ""BattleBots" Is Back and the Robot Showdown Is Taking Over "The Fight Capital of the World"". The Futon Critic. December 2, 2021.
- ^ ""BattleBots 2021: Live Robot Fighting like you've never seen before. You could be seen on TV!"". battlebots.com. May 20, 2022.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 1.6.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATE #2 | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 1.13.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 1.20.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATE #3 | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 1.27.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 2.3.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 2.10.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 2.17.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 2.24.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals UPDATED (Network Finals to Come) | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 3.3.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 3.10.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 3.17.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 3.24.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 3.31.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.
- ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 4.7.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED | Showbuzz Daily". showbuzzdaily.com.