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(STATS) -- Less than 72 hours after one of the biggest victories in Eastern Illinois history, coach Kim Dameron was eying another potential triumph that would be even greater -- at least in his mind.Scoring 14 unanswered points in the final four minutes to stun FBS member Miami (Ohio) 21-17 last weekend snapped a 10-game nonconference losing streak for the Panthers (1-1). However, a road victory over rival Illinois State on Saturday could mean more to the program.I would say this would be a much bigger win -- even than Miami -- to beat Illinois State, Dameron said. In-state rival, top 5 FCS team and a member of the Missouri Valley that has been a dominant conference.Weve got our work cut out for us. Were looking to forward to the challenge this week.Though the ISU (2-0) has won three straight and six of the last seven home meetings of this appropriately dubbed Mid-American Classic, it needed overtime to win 34-31 in last seasons 104th installment between the perennial Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Football Conference powers. Sean Slatterys 32-year field goal in the extra session gave the Redbirds a second consecutive overall victory in the series, and his 33-yard boot as time expired last Saturday sent them to an impressive 9-7 victory over Northwestern.On the heels of that upset, Illinois State moved up to fifth in the latest STATS FCS Top 25. Eastern Illinois remains just outside of the Top 25, but knows a victory in Normal will only help its perception on a national level.Its not going to get any easier, Dameron said. Were going to try to put our best foot forward.Weve got to continue to get better, continue to get the program better.Perhaps the biggest challenge this week facing players and coaches from both ISU and EIU was dealing with all the attention from their respective upsets. The calls and texts were plenty for Redbirds coach Brock Spack, making it a little difficult at times to keep the focus on preparing for this rivalry matchup.We all know what goes on in that game, Spack said of facing Eastern.I would be surprised if our team didnt handle the success maturely. But Ive been surprised before. ... (We) have a lot of poise, a lot of belief. We have to be better than we were last week to win the game.Illinois State totaled 372 yards against the Wildcats, but only 85 on the ground after running up 271 in a 50-13 rout of Valparaiso. However, it yielded 277 total yards against the Big Ten Wildcats and just 407 while giving up one offensive touchdown through two games.Our kids were really tough mentally and physically (against Northwestern), Spack said. It was really great to see. ... It just felt like we belonged.Spacks group could see improved production running ball against an Eastern squad thats allowed 390 rushing yards this season and gave up four touchdowns on the ground in a 38-21 opening loss to a Western Illinois team currently ranked 16th.Offensively, Syracuse transfer Mitch Kimble has thrown for 473 yards and five TDs but should be in for a severe test against the talented Redbirds defense.I thought we made improvements from Week 1 to Week 2, which is something we had to do, Dameron said. Im happy about that but we still got a long way to go in a lot of areas.This is one of three OVC-MVFC crossover matchups Saturday as Southeast Missouri State will host Indiana State and Murray State visits Southern Illinois. Custom Cleveland Browns Jerseys . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Custom Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys . 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Each week, ESPN.com writer Brett Okamoto provides his take on the hottest topics in the world of mixed martial arts.This week, Okamoto squares off with UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta to debate the latest news and talk about the UFC belts changing hands, Nick Diazs return and more. Iaquinta (12-3-1), 29, hasnt fought since a split-decision victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC Fight Night 63 in April 2015 in Fairfax, Virginia.1. Seven UFC champions have lost their title in 2016. Why?Iaquinta: The level of fighting is getting so competitive now. One little mistake, thats all it takes to lose. As time goes on, people get better and better. Technology and training is improving. I think its going to be harder for these champions to hold on to their titles and have those long reigns they did years ago.Okamoto: Because divisions are deep and the sport is evolving. I agree with Al all the way. Were not watching striker vs. grappler anymore. Were not seeing one athlete who knows how to cut weight against one who doesnt cut at all. Everything is a science. There are a lot of ways to lose. One style doesnt beat every other style around it. It used to. Anderson Silva set a record 12 consecutive title defenses with takedown defense, pinpoint counter-striking and debilitating mind games. That worked for years. Then he ran into Chris Weidman,?a composed, athletic middleweight with a collegiate wrestling background and a good pressure offense, and Silva went down in consecutive matches. Current UFC champs are facing well-rounded, elite competition on a nightly basis. Its hard to win every time when thats the case.2. In these dangerous times for a champ, who is the safest to maintain his or her belt? Who is the most at risk?Iaquinta:?[Flyweight]?Demetrious Johnson is definitely the safest. Hes had the belt for so long. That 125-pound division hasnt caught up yet. Hes so far ahead. Eventually, there might be a younger guy we might not have even heard of yet, comes out of nowhere and beats him, but not right now. And you know what? [Heavyweight]?Stipe Miocic, actually. Hes still improving. Hes been around, but hes still getting better. I know thats one of the hardest divisions to hold on to a title, because at heavyweight, you get hit with one shot, thats it. But I think hes going to have [Alistair] Overeems number [at UFC 203 on Sept. 10]. I think hell hold on to it. Who is most at risk? I think Conor McGregor is going to have a very tough time going back to 145 pounds. Im going to say either he tries to defend it and loses or decides not to go down. I think its more likely he just vacates the belt.Okamoto: Safest: strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Frankly, Jedrzejczyk could have an off night and still beat most of the contenders shes apt to see in that division. Something very, very wild would have to take place for her to lose the belt at this point. Nearly as safe: Demetrious Johnson. Everyone else, as far as Im concerned, is pretty vulnerable. Most at risk? Hard to say when we dont know who some of these champions are fighting next, but in general, I dont expect long title reigns out of lightweight Eddie Alvarez, welterweight Tyron Woodley?or?middleweight Michael Bisping. Those divisions are loaded. Expect those belts to bounce around.3. Who should newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodleys first title defense be against?Iaquinta: Its gotta be Wonderboy (Stephen Thompson). I went into the fight this weekend pretty much watching to see who was going to fight Wonderboy next..dddddddddddd. Recently, nobody has been able to touch him. Hes putting people away, making them look like amateurs. So, I think thats the fight thats got to happen. Wonderboy is the No. 1 contender and he might have been more deserving of a title shot than even Woodley was.Okamoto: One-hundred percent, Thompson. I actually have Thompson ranked No. 1 in the welterweight division, ahead of Woodley. Thats no knock on Woodley, and its very, very close, but in my opinion, Thompson deserves the No. 1 rank based on their respective resumes. Since January 2015, Thompson is 3-0 with two finishes, and two of his wins were against Johny Hendricks?by knockout and Rory MacDonald?in a five-round decision. Woodley is 2-0, with a split decision against Kelvin Gastelum and then the knockout over Lawler. Like I said, were splitting hairs, but I have Thompson as my No. 1 welterweight. He deserves the shot, clearly.4. Nick Diaz is a free man. His 18-month suspension ended on Aug. 1. Whom should he return against?Iaquinta: I would love to see Nick Diaz have a rematch against Robbie Lawler. I remember watching that fight years ago (April 2004). Nick Diaz kind of came out of nowhere, Lawler was getting the hype. That was, what, 10 years ago probably? Twelve? Both of these guys are still at the top of the game. Neither of them are ever in a boring fight. The lead-up to that fight would be fun. I think its a great matchup. I could see it going the same way as the first one, but Lawler has matured a lot. I think he went real crazy on Diaz the first time and kind of walked into a punch. It might be more of a technical fight on Robbies end. As far as who wins, I dont know. Its just a fight Id love to see. Im a fan of both guys.Okamoto: Theres no question at all, its Robbie Lawler. This rematch has been 12 years in the making. Its been talked about as if its some mythical creature, like something we all caught a brief glimpse of and have quietly searched and longed for ever since. Diaz told me hes not interested in the fight, because Lawler is coming off a loss. I love the attitude. That mentality right there -- call it delusion if you want, maybe theres some truth in that -- but thats what makes the Diaz brothers so popular. Everybody needs me more than I need them. Its great. In reality, of course, it doesnt hold up. Diaz hasnt won a fight since 2011. If anything, its Lawler who should be asking for a higher-ranked opponent. Hopefully, when the dust settles, this is the matchup Diaz returns to.5. Were eight months into 2016. Who is the current front-runner for fighter of the year?Iaquinta: Wonderboys gotta be up there, right? I think hes gotta be the guy. Tyron Woodleys only fight was the win against Robbie. Im trying to think of who else -- nothing. Ive gotta go with Wonderboy.Okamoto: Michael Bisping, by a landslide. Very, very good chance its Bisping when we hit Dec. 31, too. Were possibly looking at a year in which a 37-year-old Bisping will have defeated Anderson Silva in a five-round fight in February, knocked out Luke Rockhold in the first round of a middleweight championship fight in June, and defended the title once against Dan Henderson in front of his hometown of Manchester in October. Well see about that last one, obviously. Im not taking anything for granted in this sport, not with the way 2016 has gone. But what a chapter this has been in Bispings career. ' ' '