Robot vs. Rooster: Oklahoma’s Strangest New “Humane” Fight Club

Credit: Shutterstock

When Lawmakers Mix Tradition, Technology, and a Touch of Absurdity

Oklahoma has officially taken the phrase “only in America” to a new level. On November 1, 2025, the state became the first in the U.S. to legalize roosters fighting robots, a law framed as a way to preserve cultural tradition while avoiding animal cruelty. The idea may sound like science fiction, but it’s now a real, legal activity in the Sooner State.

It all began in January 2025, when Representative Justin Humphrey introduced House Bill 1326, inspired by Brazil’s “robot cockfighting” events. There, birds peck at padded drones for points instead of engaging in violent fights. Humphrey said his goal was to modernize the sport without harming animals. At first, most observers dismissed the bill as a stunt. Even Humphrey admitted it was unlikely to pass.

But after months of quiet lobbying from the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission, which donated more than $41,000 to supportive lawmakers, the bill squeezed through the state legislature in October 2025. The law took effect just days later, allowing roosters to spar with mechanical opponents as long as no injury occurs.

Under the new rules, traditional cockfighting remains a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, but robot bouts are now exempt. In these matches, drones or small machines wear padded “vests” and respond to pecks or dodges like a points-based sport. Supporters are calling it a humane evolution of a rural pastime, while critics see it as a loophole that still encourages animal aggression.

Animal Wellness Action, one of the main opposition groups, has argued that the law promotes cruelty under the guise of modernization. Others see it as harmless entertainment for breeders who want to keep their traditions alive. Oklahoma reportedly has around 10,000 gamefowl breeders, many of whom welcomed the compromise.

Online, the story spread fast. Social media is filled with memes and jokes comparing it to “F1 for chickens” and calling it “proof we live in a simulation.” YouTube videos imagining “robot rooster fights” have already gone viral, even though no official events have been reported yet.

Supporters predict the first sanctioned fights could happen by Thanksgiving, turning Oklahoma into an unlikely testing ground for “humane” competition between birds and bots. Whether it’s innovation or absurdity, one thing’s certain: no other state has ever tried anything quite like it.