"On the contrary-! I've scuffled with that confangled machine of yours enough to know that I stand on the high grounds when pitted against you!" He's bluffing-ohhh is he bluffing but you can't blame a guy for being hopeful. More than anything Jake didn't want Dirk to pull any punches, not like the brobot did when set on 'novice'.

They were led into the arena quickly, given the weapons they came to the island with, and told to stand in the center and wait to start. Back to back, Jake could feel his heart racing, his ears pounding, and his palms itching at the hammers of his pistols. He wasn't going to shoot Dirk, hell no, but he had a trained enough eye to where he could shoot at the ground to startle him.

Which is exactly what happened the moment the buzzer signaled the start of their match and he put enough space between them.