Semantics. He doesn't consider them equals, or he'd ask their permission before doing things affecting them. Just because he hasn't said the words doesn't mean the very existence of this game implies it. Riddick doesn't even bother inclining his head to allow the point, since he doesn't. "Losing would just take you out of the running to win, at this point, so if you aren't already running on less power than you should be, there shouldn't be anything else we could do after you lost to kill you, anyway-- unless you're worried about something or someone else taking advantage."