fistfight vs contend

fistfight is a noun but contend is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
fistfight	Yes	No	Yes	No
contend	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, contend is a hypernym of fistfight; that is, contend is a word with a broader meaning than fistfight:

Other hypernyms of fistfight include fight, struggle.

fistfight (noun)	contend (noun)
a fight with bare fists

fistfight (verb)	contend (verb)
fight with the fists	to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation
	have an argument about something
	maintain or assert
	compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
	be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
	succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available