Cheetah the type of animal to not even waste its time potentially getting injured when they know they can just outrun something. So they just tend to run away. But give them some incentive, like something messing with its cubs, then you got a fight. And considering a Cheetah can take down a Gizelle and wildebeast, both being stronger and bigger than a pit, Cheetah can take this battle.
Now a wolf might give a cheetah problems.
More ducktales. When lions or other predators come looking for cheetah cubs, a cheetahs first instinct is to lure them away by using themselves as bait. AKA... trying to use their strongest asset (speed) To their advantage. They'll try to get the lion to give chase and run them away from the den.
There are exceptions to every rule of course. But u will never see cheetahs consistently fighting other apex predators over cubs. Because they can't win. And they know it.