She hit him like a half ton of bricks, smashing her shoulder into his stomach and driving his breath away a second time as he dropped toward the ground. Whether thinking quickly or acting on instinct, he pulled his legs together to wrap them around her waist when she ended up between them, then rolled back as he hit the ground to spread out the impact and avoid any significant damage from the fall. From there, he would extend his hips to hold her back and keep his face out of fist and elbow range. He wouldn't stay there long, though, and would almost immediately pull his hips forward again to get her off balance and force her hands down to brace her body and avoid falling on top of him. Whether they landed on his chest or to either side of his head would be irrelevant, he had counters for both in his arsenal. It would be more problematic if she was quick enough to get a punch or elbow strike in as he pulled her forward, but he was aware of the possibility and as ready as he could be to defend against such a strike.