 A general "melee" of several, lower-skilled gladiators was far less costly, but also less popular.Even among the "ordinarii", match winners might have to fight a new, well-rested opponent, either a "tertiarius" ("third choice gladiator") by prearrangement; or a "substitute" gladiator ("suppositicius") who fought at the whim of the "editor" as an unadvertised, unexpected "extra".This yielded two combats for the cost of three gladiators, rather than four; such contests were prolonged, and in some cases, more bloody.