Good point.
I have NEVER seen a tiger or tiger fight. Have you? Please provide videos.
I have seen hundreds of lion on lion/s fights. These are for dominance and for mating rights to the lionesses of the pride.
Hence more often than not, the ruling lion overpowers the challenger and the challenger runs. The ruler does not press the issue because he's done his job. Maintained the position. And ensured his bloodline survives and propagates.
Things get serious as the lion gets older and/or instead of one challenger, two brothers come in. In such cases, very often, the lion who gets mauled limps away. Either becomes a maneater. Or dies of his wounds.
In the case of a lion and tiger, it would not be a fight to drive away, because I'm guessing they are so different that they are not interested in cross mating. It would usually be trespassing or coming upon each other suddenly or territorial dominance.
In such cases the fight would usually be to the death.
Just my 2 bits from Animal Planet etc. I'm no expert and I've learned a lot on this thread, like others before it.
Cheers, Doc