According to http://www.ancient.eu/gladiator/, a gladiator was a professional fighter who specialized with particular weapons, and fought before the public in large arenas throughout the Roman Empire from 105 BCE to 404 CE. These official contests or fights were usually to the death, therefore gladiators had a short life expectancy. Although it was in some respects a glamorous profession, the majority of fighters were slaves, former slaves or condemned prisoners. Without doubt, gladiator spectacles were one of the most watched forms of popular entertainment in the Roman world.
This arena is quite different than the ones where gladiators fought to the death, but there are still some very entertaining contests that take place here.