Van's experience in fighting was scraps. He knew how to throw a punch and could take one, but beyond that he didn't have any formed strategy. So long as the other person was down and more bloody than he was, he counted it a win.
It turned out, Liam was harder to bring down than Van had originally thought. He knew his punch had to have hurt, but the were stayed standing. Van's shirt was in Liam's fist and Van dug his fingernails into his wrist while driving his other fist into Liam's ribs.
He couldn't help stop his own momentum when Liam shoved him. Van didn't weigh much to begin with, so shoving was very effective. Van's foot tripped over Liam's and down he went, but taking Liam with him. Students were shouting scattered out of the way, closing in again to form a bigger circle. The landing was hard, but Van wasted no time before he was throwing fists and twisting to try and get on top of Liam.