BattleBots Wiki
Register
Advertisement
BattleBots Wiki

Defiant was a lightweight robot built by the self-titled Team Defiant which competed in the inaugural BattleBots Long Beach event in 1999.

It was a low profile, six-wheel drive robot armed with a four-bar lifting arm similar to that of heavyweight BioHazard. Defiant's arm was pneumatically-powered, utilizing a CO2 cannister housed towards the front of the robot. It was very successful during its only season, becoming the runner-up of the event after becoming the first robot to defeat Ziggo, but then losing to it immediately after in the Kilobot final.

Defiant LB1999

Defiant during the Long Beach 1999 event.

Defiant would not compete again after the 1999 competition and was a notable absentee as the Comedy Central seasons began. James Underwood cited "family and career" as the reasons for effectively retiring from the sport.[1]

Outside BattleBots[]

DefiantRW97

Defiant's US Robot Wars 1997 appearance.

Defiant (also then known as The Defiant) entered the 1999 BattleBots competition as the incumbent US Robot Wars champion in the lightweight division from two years prior. For this competition, Defiant was armored in 4mm thick graphite laminate, citing it as "just as strong as aluminum, but about half the weight".[2] Underwood also believed as the CO2 cylinder became cold from use, this helped to cool the drive motors and prevent overheating.

En route to its championship win, Defiant first defeated Scrappy before drawing to X7. It would then defeat Pretty Hate Machine to reach the semi-finals where, this time, it beat X7. In the final, Defiant got the better of Ominous Brick of Doom to win the 1997 Robot Wars lightweight division.

Robot History[]

Long Beach 1999[]

Defiant vs. Endotherm

Defiant vs Endotherm

Defiant throws Endotherm over.

Defiant vs Endotherm flip Long Beach 1999

Defiant lifts Endotherm against the spikestrip.

Defiant's first fight was against Endotherm. Defiant won by knockout after throwing its opponent over multiple times. As such, it advanced in the winner's bracket.

Defiant vs. Rasta

Next up for Defiant was Jim Sellers and Rasta. Here, Defiant picked up a second win by knockout and continued on.

Defiant vs. The Crusher

Defiant's third round opponent was The Crusher. The US Robot Wars champion continued its streak, defeating The Crusher by KO to advance to the quarter-finals.

Defiant vs. Tentoumushi

Now in the final eight, Defiant faced Lisa Winter and Tentoumushi. Defiant picked up its fourth win to move into the semi-finals.

Defiant vs. Ziggo

Here, Defiant took on Jonathan Ridder and Ziggo. Defiant failed to score a knockout for the first time in the tournament thus far. With both robots surviving the duration of the fight, Defiant was declared the winner by crowd vote.

Defiant vs. Ziggo

Defiant Ziggo LB1999 final

Ziggo tears pieces away from Defiant.

As the shell spinner won the loser's bracket, this meant Defiant fought an immediate rematch against Ziggo. This time, the shell spinner caused significant damage to Defiant, tearing parts away. Although Defiant was able to pin Ziggo against the killsaws, which sliced into its shell, Defiant was unable to repeat its semi-final success and Ziggo won by crowd vote, meaning Defiant finished runner-up in the Kilobot class.

Kilobot Rumble

HammerHeadslamsDefiant

HammerHead drives into Defiant during the rumble.

Defiant returned as one of nineteen robots involved in the end-of-competition Kilobot Rumble. It took on HammerHead, Toe-Crusher, Mouser Catbot, Ziggo, Sallad, Wedge of Doom, Dr. Inferno, Alpha Raptor, W.L.O.W., Missing Link, Instigator, Knome, RACC, Executioner, Spike of Doom, Lock-Nut Monster, Gorange 3 and Rasta. However, it ultimately lost out to HammerHead.

Competitive Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 5
  • Losses: 1

Exhibition Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 0
  • Losses: 1

Total Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 5
  • Losses: 2
James Underwood

James Underwood with Defiant.

Competition Wins Losses
Long Beach 1999 Endotherm
Rasta
The Crusher
Tentoumushi
Ziggo
Ziggo
HammerHead (Rumble)

References[]

Advertisement