Kicks DO work in real fights. If you don't believe so, that's because you aren't well versed in using them. If you've been trained to kick they should feel like a natural movements. As I said, I've knocked out a typical street boxer with one left high roundhouse. He was bobbing back and forth and being jittery like Phil Baroni always does in his fights, and I could tell he was going to charge in with a flurry and "BAM" he was out. Timing was perfect.
Better than a roundhouse though, is a front kick to the gut or chest as your coming in, with punches, or if they're charging in on you a front snap kick. Otherwise, kick like you're kicking through them or knocking down a door.
Also headbutts, elbows, and if you really want to hurt them bad throat strikes and groing strikes. One poke to the eye will end a fight instantly, but that's harder to employ than it sounds, and you don't want to do that unless you plan on causing permanent damage.