(n.) One who competes; a contestant\.

battler belligerent belted knight bickerer blade bravo brawler bully bullyboy combatant competitor contestant corrival disputant duelist emulator enforcer entrant fencer feuder fighter fighting cock foilsman gamecock gladiator goon gorilla hatchet man hood hoodlum hooligan jouster knight militant player plug-ugly quarreler rioter rival rough rowdy ruffian sabreur scrapper scuffler squabbler strong arm strong-arm man strong-armer struggler swashbuckler sword swordplayer swordsman the field thug tilter tough tussler vier wrangler