Michael Chiesa offers to return $50k 'Fight of the Night' bonus for Joe Lauzon rematch -- and 'J-Lau' accepts

How badly does Michael Chiesa want to rematch Joe Lauzon?

Badly enough to return the $50,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus he was awarded in defeat to "J-Lau," which came after a nasty cut above his right eye (pic) left him unable to continue. Well, that's according to the cageside physician, a move that Chiesa (via MMA Junkie) insists "wasn't right."

"Everyone's like, ‘Cheer up, you got the bonus.' I don't care. I would give that $50,000 back just to be able to go the rest of the fight. I'm not taking a shot at the commission, but I feel like they should have at least given me through the round. Herb did his job coming in and checking the cut, but we train three months for one moment. To take it away from me in a fight where I was never out of the fight isn't right. When he got done with that flurry, he was gassed. I put it on him, and then they came in and checked the cut. From the cuts that he's had and how educated he is, for him to say he knew they were going to stop it is a crock of shit. There's no way he covered up and waited for them to stop it. He was striking back, and I was coming on. He was tired. It's just a heartbreaker. I'm gunning for a rematch. Everybody wants to avenge their losses, but I didn't lose. There's no way. I refuse to accept that I lost that fight. If Joe was handling me and kicking my ass and a cut stopped it, I'd probably take it with a little bit more dignity and accept it. But I'm not going to accept it."

He may not have to.

While Lauzon was hoping Chiesa would take his loss "like a man," the Bostonian is willing to do it all over again. But only if his opponent makes good on his promise to hand over the extra scratch from their war at UFC Fight Night 50 last Saturday night (Sept. 5, 2014) on FOX Sports 1 (replay).

Accept the loss like a man, or the @UFC can send me your FoTN check and we do it again @mikemav22

The ball check is in your court, "Maverick."