should not count as the same strike. I am not saying who won the fight either way, but push kicking a guy and punching someone in the face are not the same thing damage wise.
You're right, a punch might just barely land whilst a kick to the thigh could buckle the leg and cause serious damage to the knee.
I still stand by the idea that a power leg kick is equal to a head strike, but a push kick to the thigh should not count as much as a head strike.