A friend of a friend was in a similar situation. Went to pick up his daughter, ex gfs new bf said something along the lines of “I’m the man in the house, so I’ll discipline her how I feel”. The daughters father beat the shit out of his ex gf’s new bf and then when he was putting his daughter into the car to have his weekend, got shot in the back and died.
Good Lord, this is the EXACT type of scenario that I am always preaching when I tell people that no matter how big, how bad, how tough we are with our fists, that a dude with a weapon is always tougher.
Seriously, I am always telling people that when they say things like "dude, as big as you are, NOBODY would ever mess with you" or something like "man I bet you're not afraid of ANYONE!". I always respond, in a light hearted manner, that no matter how much weight I can lift, or how many inches my arms are, that the skinniest or fattest, weakest person with a shotgun is a helluva lot more dangerous than me. I will say something like "man, actually I fear crazy fuckers with weapons, that I never see coming".
That story is absolutely awful, but a lesson to us all. Unless you plan on murdering or physically disabling the person you're fighting, better think twice about fucking with people, deserved or not, because you never know when or how they will retaliate. It could literally cost you your life, and could destroy your family when they are left without you, all because you couldn't just shake your head at a fool, and let the fool be the fool.
Easier said than done? Of course! But I always try to diffuse situations, rather than escalate them, despite pretty much always being the physically bigger person.