I generally don't want to kill this character so after handing out a bit of a kicking I will yield to them, stopping the fight and getting ready to pay my fine to the guards.
That's all fine but something I'd like to see in Skyrim is a system in which NPCs would attempt to yield to me if I'm getting the better of them in a fight. I know sometimes people flee if they are getting beaten but this would be different with characters asking to stop the fight. I'd quite like the principle spread to characters like bandits who start fights with you. Of course, whether or not you accept the yield is a different matter...
Any thoughts?