Michael Chiesa can live with losing to Kevin Lee ‘fair and square’ in future UFC rematch

Michael Chiesa saw his three-fight win streak come to an end at the hands of Kevin Lee a year ago after “The Motown Phenom” put a stamp on their rivalry by choking him out at UFC Fight Night 112. Thought it wasn’t without it’s fair share of controversy.

It’s due to the way the bout ended that “Maverick” has had a tough time digesting the loss, even a year later. That’s why he wants a chance to rematch Lee later on down the road to settle it once and for all.

And as he told UFC Unfiltered if he loses fair and square, then so be it.

“We’ve spoken to each other and if we rematch, when we rematch, if he beats me fair and square, so be it, you got me. That’s the nature of the beast, when you compete at the highest level you won’t be undefeated . So if he beats me fair and square, it will be tough, but I can live with that. But I just didn’t think that fight was going to play out the way that it ended. I want to run it back, that’s a good matchup for me. And like you guys said, it’s got the hype and it’s a main event fight, for sure.”

After his win, Lee went on to lose to Tony Ferguson in an interim Lightweight title fight at UFC 216, though he roared back in a big way by absolutely crushing Edson Barboza six months later.

As for Chiesa, he hasn’t competed since losing to Lee as his scheduled bout against Anthony Pettis -- which was set for UFC 223 -- was cancelled after “Maverick” was forced out of the vent after he sustained facial lacerations due to Conor McGregor’s rampage.

Pettis and Chiesa will finally get it on at the upcoming UFC 226 pay-per-view (PPV) event on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With a win over “Showtime,” Chiesa will make a strong case to get his much-desired do-over against Lee.