I had that issue, yes.
His attacks have a weird timing to them, there's a very big delay. I'd go as far as saying they seem to have designed him to punish the sort of rolling that would be very effective in Dark Souls 3.
After getting my head smashed in a few times I went out and explored. I agree, the mechanics are a bit misleading, the game pushes you along as if that was going to be the first, easy, "introductory" fight. I also get the impression that the starter weapons feel underpowered, the game improved when I found another, better one that had a fun weapon art to it.
I really suggest that you go around Limgrave, just exploring, leveling up... At least for a while.
What starter class did you pick, what sort of weapon you prefer?