With current lightweight champion Jamie Varner sidelined because of injuries, organizers for World Extreme Cagefighting have decided that top contenders Donald Cerrone (10-1) and Ben Henderson (9-1) will fight for an interim lightweight belt. They will headline the main event for WEC 43 which will take place in Youngstown, Ohio on Sept. 2 at the Covelli Centre.

There were reports that Varner would have his title stripped from him due to the uncertainty of his return. WEC General Manager Reed Harris told MMAWeekly.com “I think there was just some misunderstanding in what I said and it is an interim belt. It is not a vacant title.”

“What we wanted Jamie to do prior to actually scheduling (a rematch with Cerrone) was to get cleared by his physician and his physician wouldn’t clear him. So what we decided is we need to move the division forward. Then we decided to do an interim belt,” explained Harris.

“(Varner’s recovery time) is indefinite and we’re going to wait to hear from Jamie and his physician as far as him being cleared to fight. As soon as he’s cleared to fight, I’d be more than happy to set up a fight for him.”