They were stupid. Dude was READY for combat. Helmet, good punch hand and a flag attached to a long billy club - not some little stick. They were too stupid to see what they were messing with.
He has guts. A good tactic would be to draw them out and then let some "associates" handle things at a distance and off camera.
good catch gaffer.
had to check the instant replay to notice the “flag pole”