UFC President Dana White had already decided that B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson would square off for the interim championship on January 19 in the U.K. The thought being that if Sean Sherk were cleared than he would immediately face the winner for the true title.

Now it has been confirmed that the Penn Stevenson match up will be for the lightweight championship sans the interim tag which has been officially dropped.

No word yet on whether Sherk will get an immediate shot at the winner or if he'll be forced to make his way up the rankings again.