Kyle Hadala, the man shown on video punching Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert in a South Dakota bar on June 19, said he was protecting a friend after being harassed by Goedert's group throughout the night.
Hadala said in an interview with TMZ Sports released Wednesday the groups first interacted at a different establishment, where Goedert's group verbally lashed out at them over jukebox choices.
"They were extremely aggressive and disrespectful," he said.
Hadala explained his friends decided to move to the Zoo Bar but were followed by Goedert and Co.