Wow..some bad advice in this...
I like the point about almost every single fight ends up on the ground...really? Only fights I see ending on the ground are when the typical drunken heroes are fighting.
I then laughed at the part about the element of surprise. Please do strike me first as in most cases a second chance won't be had and it gives me grounds for acting out of self defence irrelevant of past training!
If you do not want to get in a fight, keep yourself away from issue areas where drunks congregate such as clubs and pubs late in the evening.
I know have an advantage many do not, that said, the best way to avoid a fight is as I sad above, so much easier than trying to be a hero that ends up with a broken neck or the like.