A Newcastle court has heard a man was attacked by the two women he is accused of bashing on Boxing Day last year and was only defending himself.

Shaun Rudder, 26, has pleaded not guilty to attacking Brittany Merrick, and her friend Brittany Norris, a girl he was dating at the time.

A hearing in Newcastle Local Court has been told Rudder was in a Newcastle pub with both women on December 26, 2015.

The court heard Rudder spat on Ms Merrick, and CCTV footage shows Rudder falling to the ground when she pushed him.

The prosecution said all three were kicked out after the fight.

Police prosecutor PJ O'Brien told the court Rudder followed the women down King Street, and struck Ms Norris in the back of the head.

It is further alleged that Ms Merrick "was struck several times in the face, fell and hit her head on the ground, and was knocked unconscious," Mr O'Brien said.

In a recorded statement to police, Ms Norris said Rudder hit her once in the back of the head, before hitting Ms Merrick "four or five times".

"Brit was unconscious and he still hit her one more time. I wanted to chase after him and hurt him," Ms Norris said.

"But if I hurt him, I'd probably be the one charged."

But defence barrister Peter Harper argued his client was followed by the women, and Ms Merrick was "the aggressor".

"From the moment she saw Rudder, she set out to finish off what she started in the club," Mr Harper told the court.

"She attacked him, he defended himself once, and she fell and the accused denies any contact with Ms Norris whatsoever."

Mr Harper told Ms Norris: "Ms Merrick started throwing punches wildly at his head, she made contact, splitting his lip. What do you say to that?"

Ms Norris replied: "I didn't see it".

Mr Harper told the court Ms Merrick: "ran at him, started throwing punches precisely as she'd done in the pub, 15 minutes earlier; she did not let off, she grabbed him by the hair with one hand and he punched her once".

Ms Norris replied: "That's not what happened".

The matter returns to court on May 23 when the Magistrate will set another date for the rest of the hearing.