I think he felt he had no choice. Pac was so fast, and throwing 6 or more punches as soon as E.M. stopped throwing. I really don't think he wanted to brawl, just that Pac was too much.

Also what makes him great is when he gets hurt he fights instead of covering up or holding. Usually that won him fights, but now it cost him against Pac. He just didn't have enough to do it.