 The traditional way of acknowledging defeat was for the yielding gladiator to raise a finger ("ad digitum"), and it is possible that in this case both men raised their fingers, but Martial's emphasis here is on Titus' even-handedness and generosity in granting a reprieve ("missio") to the crowd's two favourites.His reference to this only happening under Titus probably alludes to the declaration of both as victors, as there is evidence that neither ties nor the survival of both gladiators in a contest were uncommon