Missiles exhausted, the pilot was forced to close and dogfight with his opponent.
a fiercly disputed contest; "their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them"; "a real dogfight for third place"; "a prolonged dogfight over their rival bids for the contract"
If you say that organizations or people are involved in a dogfight, you mean they are struggling very hard against each other in order to succeed. The three leading contenders were locked in a dogfight
A twisting turning battle between two or more military aircraft, especially between fighters
a violent fight between dogs (sometimes organized illegally for entertainment and gambling) an aerial engagement between fighter planes a fiercly disputed contest; "their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them"; "a real dogfight for third place"; "a prolonged dogfight over their rival bids for the contract"
engage in an aerial battle with another fighter plane arrange for an illegal dogfight
a violent fight between dogs (sometimes organized illegally for entertainment and gambling)