Well, at least his initial 'oh crap' had been warranted.

Second rule of dealing with a lot of linebackers in your line of work: try to stay out of their bloody range. His face made a good beeline for the mat, but the force of experience allowed him to control it somewhat.

He, hence, failed to flail.

Instead, he made a marked attempt to smack Minsc in the stomach on his way down. Not quite by the rules of gentlemanly combat, but...