It provided some freedom to the fighters and opportunities to escape from poverty, but at a high risk of injury or death.
It could become quite an addictive lifestyle due to the rush and thrill of the fights, while there was also the lure of the money and the fame that could be just as addictive.
If anyone participated in such a fighting event of a higher class like the one Ash was a part of, then they could make quite a lot of money for themselves, and even if they lost, they could still end up earning enough to cover their regular expenses for some time.
If they were not working, then there would be even more of a need for such a thing, especially if they were unable to live off whatever government support they would be getting, and that was only if they got that support.
If they did not have anything like that, then they could become even more dependent on whatever they could earn each time they would participate in it.
