Yes very easily actually. He had already escaped and been freed. If he didn’t fight Akainu then he’d still be here right now.
The whole reason Ace died was because Akainu was bad talking Whitebeard.
Ace didn’t like that so he said take it back.
However when he didn’t he decided to do something that wasn’t needed. Fight Akainu when he had the clear mismatch against his devil fruit.
It also goes back to the fact Luffy was behind him.
So he couldn’t run, he had to stay and fight. At least in his mind.
However, like I said Akainu wouldn’t have went for Luffy if ace didn’t turn and try and fight him. All of it could have been avoided. Akainu knew ace would fight back and it gave him an opportunity to take him out.
Without Ace fighting back tho someone else, maybe jinbe or jozu or anyone else in the vicinty would have taken the fall allowing them to escape.
It's my opinion