That's how I remember it too. Once he got her penned in the Commissioner's Trophy, he did pretty much finally knock her out. His attention was fully focused on Burnham when Georgiou impaled him through the back with her sword. I personally thought the fight scenes were some of the best choreographed in all of Trek. No doubt Yeoh had a hand in how it all came together. I honestly felt Lorca did an arguably good job holding his own against Georgiou.
As for his not being as effective against Burnham, in AfterTrek Isaacs said that he specifically didn't want to hurt her, hence the order to his people that she was not to be touched. He was holding back and doing standard grappling techniques to try to neutralize her attacks - he wasn't trying to actually mess her up - he was trying to get her to join him.
So these so-called allegations that this scene was some secret leftist plot to universally emasculate all white men, IMO, simply do not hold water. And those here who know me know I don't say such things idly.