What Public Function Did Gladiatorial Combats Provide in the Roman

What public function did gladiatorial combats provide in the Roman Empire?

A) They provided communication between ruler and ruled, as ordinary citizens staged protests at events at which the emperor was present.
B) They provided a chance for emperors to enter the arena themselves and display their courage and bravery in front of their subjects.
C) They overturned social and political hierarchies, insofar as women and the poor were allowed to sit in the same section as the emperor and wealthy patricians.
D) They provided a chance for slaves and criminals to win their freedom.