latter couldn't self-right. The Irish robot then proceeded to shove Dome down the pit, eliminating it from the competition and giving Diotoir an easy win.

Evolution started defending itself by revolving its spinning head, with Sabretooth cautiously approaching it before charging into it. Sabretooth struck Evolution's MDF body, causing shards to scatter, but in the process, Sabretooth snagged a loose string of material, and lost its weaponry.

"You could see them whirling away, caught on the body of Evolution, and then stopped turning."

— Jonathan Pearce on Sabretooth's weaponry

Both robots then ran rings around each other, having no real means offence between them, before both became locked together, and stood still.

Sergeant Bash attacks Evolution

Sir Killalot grapples with Evolution

Sgt. Bash then came out of his CPZ and crumpled into the wooden bodyworkbutton and then Tornado seemed to have lost power, and Diotoir pushed it in the pit, almost falling in on top.

Diotoir overpowers Tornado to cause a major upset

"Diotoir, did they sense that Tornado was on its last leg, as it were? What a shock this is! Diotoir nearly went in, but Tornado crash out! The twelfth seeds have gone! What a win for Diotoir!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Diotoir pits Tornado

Immediately after the battle, Team Tornado claimed that Tornado's drum kept snagging on Diotoir's fur, causing them to constantly reverse the drum. They also stated on their website that Tornado itself ended up losing drive on one side in the later stages, allowing Diotoir to pit it.[1]

Before the battle, a brick was placed in the blade mechanism of Evolution