Mauler, a bunch of whoopa$$ in a can. - Bil Dwyer introducing Mauler in Season 1.0
Built by "Supreme Commander" Charles Tilford and his family, Mauler's weapon was a large overheaddisk equipped with chisels and steel padlocks spinning at around 550rpm.[1] It was notable for its various incarnations, each upgraded from the last, as well as its eccentric builders. For the final two seasons of BattleBots, the design was changed from the spinning lid to a full-body spinner with two flails. However, the spinning forces of the robot caused the shell to bend in on itself, and at least once during the Season 5.0 competition the shell had to be changed due to this.
Mauler was also well-known for taking multiple vibrantly painted shells to each competition, and became renowned for the "Mauler dance", which occurred when Mauler attempted to right itself upon being flipped. This behavior was also referred to as "pulling a Mauler" and has remained a relevant term even in the sport's modern era.
For Season 5.0, the team also entered a superheavyweight called M2K02. However, it lost in the first preliminary round to Steel Reign.
Mauler was originally built for the US Robot Wars competitions, held in San Francisco. The first iteration, dubbed South Bay Mauler, was a 59lb middleweight robot and participated in 1994 competition. Though it lost its first battle to The X-1, it finished runner-up by virtue of there only being two middleweights in the inaugural event. South Bay Mauler returned for a mixed weight class rumble, where it got the better of seven opponents as one of only two still running at the end of the battle.
In 1995, Mauler returned as Mauler 95 and fought in the heavyweight class. The added weight allowed for Charles Tilford and his team to upgrade the robot's weapon consisting of a top-mounted disk with maces mounted by chains. This version of Mauler advanced past The Mulcher before losing to The Master.
A year later, Mauler returned to its South Bay Mauler identity. After receiving a Round 1 bye in the 1996 competition, South Bay Mauler fought former champion La Machine. It lost this fight but returned for the Heavyweight Melees, where it advanced through its opening qualifier before entering a twelve-robot final, where it was again bested by La Machine, operated by Greg Munson and Trey Roski.
The Tilford family returned for Robot Wars 1997 now called The Mauler. Here, it defeated Bubba and Mash-N-Go in the opening rounds, qualifying for the final four. The Mauler then then beat Z but fell in the semi-finals to BioHazard. This proved to be its final US Robot Wars battle as it did not compete in any melees.
In the UK series Robot Wars, Mauler was set to compete in the First World Championship side competition, representing the USA. However, it was disqualified as its weapon was deemed too unsafe for the arena to contain. Footage of Mauler being tested and the South Bay RoboWarriors being informed about the decision remained in the episode, but Mauler was forced to forfeit against Cyprus representative Cerberus.
In 2000, Mauler took part in an unaired pilot for an American spin-off of Robot Wars, set to be aired on MTV. Mauler defeated Spike in Round 1 to qualify for the final, where it defeated frenZy. However, the pilot was unsuccessful and footage from this pilot remains lost media to this day.
Mauler 51-50 fought in the heavyweight division of Steel Conflict 3 as HellFire 666, where it was first beaten by Iron Maiden. It next took on Team LOGICOM and Phrizbee, losing this fight too and ending the event winless.
Hellfire 666 returned for Steel Conflict 4. After suffering an opening defeat to Evelyn: a Modified Dawg, Hellfire 666 then lost to Tillah and former Robotica competitor Particle Accelerator, retiring after its final fight due to damage sustained.
One of Mauler 51-50's shells from Season 3.0 made a cameo in the ABCBattleBots reboot, where it could be seen in the crowd with Ray Scully of Team Wetware on several occasions.
Mauler's Season 3.0 lid at RoboGames 2018.
The lid of Mauler 51-50 currently owned by Ray Scully.
Mauler as Hellfire 666 during Steel Conflict.
Mauler in The Pits during the MTV pilot of Robot Wars.
Mauler with Mini Mauler.
Mauler being tested during Robot Wars.
Mauler as it appeared for the 1995 and 1996 events.
South Bay Mauler during the 1994 US Robot Wars competition.
Robot History[]
Long Beach 1999[]
The Mauler vs. frenZy
frenZy attacks the top of The Mauler.
The Mauler's first match of the competition was against frenZy. Neither robot was knocked out in the allocated time and frenZy won by crowd vote.
The Mauler vs. Punjar
Now in the loser's bracket, The Mauler faced Punjar. This fight also went the distance and Punjar won by crowd vote. As such, The Mauler was eliminated from the tournament.
Gigabot Royal Rumble
BioHazard and The Mauler being separated after the rumble ended.
The Mauler then participated the Gigabot Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament. The Mauler started spinning at full speed and manages to hit Rhino from the front. The Mauler stopped spinning and after getting hit by S.L.A.M., BioHazard slid underneath The Mauler and almost flipped it over. BioHazard continued pushing The Mauler until the rumble was halted, as Juggernaut started catching fire and was extinguished immediately. After the rumble restarted, The Mauler managed to escape and started spinning its disk again. The Mauler was slammed by Punjar and lifted by BioHazard again. However, BioHazard got its lifting arm stuck underneath The Mauler and pushed it against the arena wall multiple times before the time ran out. Razer was declared the overall winner of the Gigabot Rumble and Mauler had to be manually separated from BioHazard after the fight.
Season 1.0[]
Mauler vs. Nightmare
Mauler rips off one of Nightmare's wheels.
Mauler's first televised BattleBots fight was against Jim Smentowski and Nightmare. Both bots inched forward, spinning at full speed. However, Mauler, having a horizontal disk, pushed Nightmare's disk to the side and hit Nightmare's left wheel, taking it off. Mauler struck Nightmare again, causing it to slide into the spikestrip. Mauler then ground at the dead Nightmare's frame with its spinning chisels until the match was declared over. Mauler won the fight by KO and moved on.
Mauler vs. KillerHurtz
Mauler rips off KillerHurtz's axe before it was immobilized.
Mauler advanced to the quarter-finals, where it faced KillerHurtz. The match started and Mauler spun up to full speed. KillerHurtz charged Mauler and was hit with the full force of its spinning maces. After a few more clashes, KillerHurtz attempted to back into Mauler to try to slow its weapon down. However it was of little effect because a piece of KillerHurtz's Lexan was easily ripped off by Mauler. KillerHurtz then attempted to attack Mauler with its pickaxe, but Mauler easily ripped it off and launched it across the arena. KillerHurtz bumped Mauler one last time, and the impact sent Mauler into the killsaws and caused Mauler's radio receiver to become disconnected and all of its systems to stop. KillerHurtz hit Mauler again, but it was unnecessary because Mauler was knocked out. Mauler was counted out, causing one of the biggest upsets in BattleBots to date. KillerHurtz won the fight by KO and Mauler was eliminated from the tournament.
Heavyweight Royal Rumble
Mauler destroying Knome II.
Mauler overturned during the rumble.
Mauler also took part in the Heavyweight Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament. In the beginning, Mauler was targeting Knome II and was bumped by BioHazard shortly after. Mauler took hits from Blendo and eventually stopped spinning, later finding itself pushed around the arena by Punjar. Mauler was lifted momentarily by Vlad the Impaler before Kill-O-Amp pushed it in front of Monster. Mauler was then towards Suicidal Tendencies, who had been immobilized earlier in the fight. Later on, Mauler was attacked by the overhead weapons of frenZy and Suicidal Tendencies, whose axe was still functional. BioHazard separated the two axe robots and opted to flip Mauler onto its lid. Mauler was unable to self-right and remained overturned near the spikestrip for the remainder for the rumble. BioHazard was declared the winner of the rumble.
Season 2.0[]
Mauler 51-50 vs. Bigger Brother
Mauler 51-50 unbalances and breaks into its first "Mauler dance".
Mauler returned for Season 2.0, dubbed Mauler 51-50. It was shorter, sleeker and faster than its previous build. The weapon now consisted of two hard steel flails. Mauler came into Season 2.0 facing Bigger Brother. The match started and Bigger Brother tried to maneuver around Mauler 51-50, afraid of the spinning blades. When the two finally met in a shower of sparks, Bigger Brother was hurled across the arena, breaking a weld on Mauler 51-50's flail that hit Bigger Brother and sending the flail flying. Mauler 51-50 became unbalanced and eventually ended up on its back. Bigger Brother pushed Mauler 51-50 into the pulverizer, causing smoke to spew from its exposed underbelly. This image of Mauler 51-50 unbalancing itself became one of the most iconic moments in BattleBots history, and from then on any time a full-body spinner unbalanced itself, it became known as the "Mauler dance". Bigger Brother won the fight by KO and Mauler 51-50 was eliminated from the tournament.
Heavyweight Consolation Rumble
Mauler 51-50 gets flipped by Bigger Brother again.
A weaponless Mjollnir attacks Mauler 51-50.
Mauler 51-50 entered the Heavyweight Consolation Rumble at the end of the tournament. Mauler 51-50 started spinning and moved to the center of the arena. Mauler 51-50 managed to hit Kill-O-Amp, OverKill and Mjollnir in a matter of seconds, but neither robot suffered any damage from the spinning flails. Mauler 51-50 stopped spinning and Bigger Brother flips Mauler 51-50 onto its side and then on its back again. The flipped Mauler 51-50 was being attacked by the weaponless Mjollnir and the knife blade of OverKill. Mauler 51-50 was left alone shortly after and time ran out soon after. OverKill and Punjar were declared the winners of the rumble.
Season 3.0[]
Mauler 51-50 vs. Dreadbot
Mauler tears into Dreadbot.
Mauler 51-50 returned once again for Season 3.0 and was able to skip the preliminary rounds. Its first opponent in this season was Dreadbot. This match was an easy victory for Mauler as Dreadbot drove forward at full speed and rammed straight into the spike strip on the opposite side of the BattleBox. It stopped moving after this and Mauler drove in to deliver a few blows before it was counted out.
Mauler 51-50 vs. Incoming
Mauler advanced to the Round of 32, where it faced Incoming. Incoming won the fight on a close 25-20 judges' decision and Mauler was eliminated from the tournament.
Heavyweight Consolation Rumble
Mauler attacks Greenspan during the rumble.
Mauler made one more appearance in Season 3.0 during the Heavyweight Consolation Rumble, but after delivering a crippling blow to Greenspan's weaponry, it was caught and overturned by Little Sister, which eliminated it from the rumble.
Season 4.0[]
Mauler 51-50 vs. Jabberwock
The initial hit between Jabberwock and Mauler 51-50.
Mauler 51-50 is attacked by the killsaws.
Mauler 51-50 suffers a blow from the pulverizer.
Mauler 51-50 was revised for Season 4.0, and again skipped the untelevised rounds. As a result, its first opponents was Jabberwock. Mauler didn't do very well in this fight, as Jabberwock's first ram caused Mauler to become unbalanced and do its namesake spin onto its back. Once inverted it could not self-right, and it was eventually pushed by Jabberwock over the killsaws and then into the pulverizer. Mauler was being counted out and Jabberwock won the fight by KO. This meant that Mauler was eliminated from the tournament.
Season 5.0[]
Mauler 51-50 vs. Incisor
Mauler's other Season 5.0 shell, this was the shell that made it to the TV rounds.
Incisor battles Mauler.
Mauler was no longer seeded for Season 5.0 and therefore had to go through the qualifiers. It first met up against Incisor. Incisor was the aggressor in this fight, able to get under Mauler and lift it, but Mauler caused more damage and won the fight on a close 23-22 judges' decision.
Mauler 51-50 vs. Spinning Mayhem
Mauler then fought Spinning Mayhem. As the match started, both robots spun up, but Spinning Mayhem backed up from Mauler's approach. Spinning Mayhem took one hit and stopped moving, while Mauler chewed on the carcass. This quick knockout brought Mauler to the final preliminary round.
Mauler 51-50 vs. Fatal Encounter
Mauler 51-50 rips off Fatal Encounter's wedge
Next up for Mauler 51-50 was Fatal Encounter. Early on, Mauler 51-50 managed to cripple the lifting arm with the first exchanges of the fight. The next hit sent Fatal Encounter's wedge flying across the BattleBox and as it tried to use its spinner, Mauler managed to break that too. Mauler began to damage the side armor of Fatal Encounter before it tapped out.
Mauler 51-50 vs. SlamJob
Mauler fighting SlamJob.
Mauler advanced to the televised rounds and went up against SlamJob. Mauler won the fight by KO and advanced to the Round of 16.
Mauler 51-50 vs. MechaVore
MechaVore and Mauler 51-50 collide.
MechaVore's weapon powers up late on.
Now in the last sixteen, Mauler 51-50 faced MechaVore. As both robots got up to speed, Mauler slowly approached MechaVore as its opponent appeared tentative, keeping its disk pointed at the Tilford family's bot. Mauler 51-50 dealt the first blow of the match to MechaVore's side, but appeared to slow down before grinding to a halt. MechaVore closed in and delivered several swipes to Mauler 51-50, slicing into its side. MechaVore drove onto the killsaws momentarily but was unaffected as it drove towards Mauler 51-50 again. However, MechaVore's own weapon began to smoke and slow down, resulting in a pushing match as the fight wore on. Both robots moved sluggishly around the BattleBox until MechaVore backed up and powered its horizontal disk once again. With twenty seconds to go, MechaVore dished out several more hits and left the lasting impression on the judges, who awarded MechaVore a 33-12 judges' decision. Mauler was eliminated from the tournament.
According to the team, Mauler's weapon stopped working due to a misplaced nut on its weapon system, which kept the shell from moving around freely. After the first big impact, the weapon moved due to the missing nut, keeping the weapon from spinning.[2]
"What went wrong? Sigh... In a prelim fight-- our second, against Technofool-- we collided spinners VERY HARD. It killed him and hurt us; we found later that the bearing block had cracked. General Knollenberg got the thing welded up, but to do so it had to be taken apart. In putting it back together again, a part got left out-- the screw that was supposed to hold the shaft at the bottom so that it could not move up and down! This was my fault. I was Pit Minion, in charge of keeping the pit organized and neat. I did a lousy job partly because I got sick and partly because I suck. The thing got LOST... hence, on the next big hard hit, which was that first hit against Mechavore that "took a huge chunk out of him," the thing popped up and threw the chain. You can see the lid hanging sideways and wobbling as it turns. The chain got tangled up on something and stalled the motor, burning it up into the bargain. The rest is history and chewed-up Mauler parts, which I hear got traded to the LTRC as a decoration, for a replacement magmotor. So, bascially, I got to live my robot-fan dream and crew for the Mauler itself, and I succeeded in KILLING HIM. Yay..."
— Chris Mcvey's account on why Mauler's weapon failed in its fight against Mechavore.
According to an article from the Washington Post, Mauler cost $4000 to build for BattleBots.
The "51-50" in Mauler's name was a reference to the corresponding section of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, which states that a qualified officer can hold an individual with a mental disorder in institution if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others.
Mauler's lid from BattleBots Season 3.0, which is currently owned by Ray Scully, was in the audience at RoboGames 2018.
This is the same lid featured on the Metal Mechanics kit released as merchandise during the Comedy Central era of Comedy CentralBattleBots.
Mauler captain Charles Tilford used to play in a rock band.
The British teams to whom Mauler suffered two upset defeats in two consecutive seasons, Team Hurtz and Team Bigger Brother, coincidentally fought each other in Season 4.0.
