Josh Hutcherson Broken Nose Mystery -- I Was Born This Way!

Josh Hutcherson's nose was BROKEN IN A CRAZY BAR FIGHT ... would have been a much cooler explanation than the one he gave us yesterday.

The "Hunger Games" star was out in Beverly Hills ... sans nose bandages ... when we asked about the mystery surrounding his messed up honker.

In case you haven't been following ... earlier this month, Josh said he underwent surgery for a "broken nose" -- but he wouldn't explain how it happened.

His rep later insisted the nose wasn't broken ... and the surgery was merely to correct a deviated septum.

WHO TO BELIEVE???