I just got in from getting thrown out of the club for fighting

I was walking by a group of guys and as I go past I suddenly feel a whole drink being poured over my back then I turn round and see the arm of the perpetrator.

Without thinking I pushed him. They were raised up a little on some steps and he is pushed down the steps.

He then comes up to me sizing up so I hold his arms and think (I better deal with this quickly) so I headbutt him. He was taller so I got him nicely in the teeth.

He gets one blow on the face to me which I didn't feel at the time. He then pushes me to the ground but I have his arm and I;m twisting it so he doesn't get to give me more blows.

The bouncer then has us both by the neck then pushes me out bidding me goodnight.

I feel bad right after in case it was an accident so go up to him and apologize saying 'Did you throw a drink on me? Anyway I'm sorry it was a kneejerk reaction'.

As he speaks I see he has blood on his teeth. He said something about it being a mistake and seemed to accept my apology somewhat but then I could tell his anger was welling up again so he accepted it somewhat and then told me I shouldn't have done that then told me to fuck off and walked away.

I felt bad after but he was ok so not so bad. A good learning experience.

How could I have better dealt with it to prevent blows? I imagine just sternly grabbing him and taking him aside to question him could have diffused the situations without it having come to that.

Thoughts?