Sherk Stripped Of Title

UFC officials have confirmed that now ex-champ Sherk has been stripped of his Lightweight title. This is in contrast to White's promise that Sherk would remain the champion due to the lack of professionalism with which the investigation proceeded.  The decision to strip Sherk is made even more puzzling by the fact that the suspension was to end in January, just days after the interim title was to be awarded to either BJ Penn or Joe Stevenson.

After his UFC 73 win over Hermes Franca, Sherk tested positive for Nandrolone. Unlike the Nevada State Athletic Commission, California's doesn't reserve the right to overturn a fight's decision (in this case, a win by Sherk). The CSAC went on to suspend Sherk for a year, but after an appeal and many questions regarding the validity and court's proceedings, Sherk's suspension was reduced to six months. Since the suspension is retroactive to the Franca fight, Sherk is technically eligible to return to the Octagon in late January.

Since the process was run with less than perfect protocol, White maintained that Sherk would not be stripped, Penn and Stevenson would fight for an Interim title, and the two champions would meet sometime in the future. The reduction of suspension seemed to confirm this belief, but White & Co. have inexplicably stripped Sherk, effectively making the UFC 80 fight for the general title.

It has yet to be announced whether or not Sherk will receive the first title shot of the Penn-Stevenson winner.