January 25, 2026

TAIPEI, Taiwan — American rock climber Alex Honnold successfully climbed the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without using any ropes or safety gear.

Cheers erupted from onlookers at street level as he reached the top of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower approximately 90 minutes after beginning his ascent. Dressed in a red short-sleeve shirt, he waved his arms triumphantly over his head.

“The view was just incredible, what a beautiful day,” he remarked afterward. “It was really windy, so I was focused on not falling off the spire. I was trying to maintain my balance. But it was an unbelievable position, such a gorgeous way to see Taipei.”

Honnold, famous for his ropeless climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, ascended one corner of Taipei 101, utilizing small L-shaped projections as footholds. Occasionally, he had to navigate around and ascend large ornamental features that protrude from the tower, pulling himself up with his bare hands.

The building consists of 101 floors, with the most challenging section being the 64 floors of the middle portion — the “bamboo boxes” that give the structure its unique appearance. Divided into eight sections, each segment has eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing, followed by balconies where he took brief rests as he progressed upward.

Honnold’s audacious free solo climb of the iconic tower in Taiwan’s capital was streamed live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. The attempt, initially set for Saturday, was postponed for 24 hours due to rain.

“As I was leaving the ground, it felt intense with so many people watching,” he said. “But honestly, everyone was cheering me on. It made the whole experience feel almost more festive, with so many supportive people around enjoying the moment.”

The climb sparked both excitement and concern regarding the ethical considerations of broadcasting such a high-risk venture live.

While Honnold is not the first climber to scale the skyscraper, he is the first to do so unroped. French climber Alain Robert previously climbed the building on Christmas Day in 2004, marking the grand opening of what was then the tallest building in the world.

The UFC may soon crown its first contender for Ilia Topuria’s lightweight title, as Justin Gaethje is set to battle Paddy Pimblett for the interim championship in the main event at UFC 324.

Gaethje, a former interim titleholder in the division, secured this shot after winning three of his last four bouts, including a unanimous decision victory over Rafael Fiziev last March. Pimblett, a rising star from the U.K., remains unbeaten in the Octagon and comes off a knockout win against Michael Chandler.

In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley aims to return to title contention against Song Yadong. O’Malley seeks to bounce back after suffering consecutive losses in his previous two Octagon bouts. Song, on the other hand, emerged victorious over Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision in his last fight.

On the undercard, former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo lost via unanimous decision to Umar Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight contest, while another former champion, Rose Namajunas, was defeated by rising flyweight star Natalia Silva in the second match of the main card.

Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, Jeff Wagenheim, and Dre Waters provide a comprehensive analysis of all the action from the first UFC fight card of the year.

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Blades Brown, showing maturity beyond his 18 years, drew increasing attention on Saturday. He finished with three consecutive birdies, placing him in a tie with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, both just one stroke behind Si Woo Kim as they head into the final round of The American Express.

Kim posted a 6-under 66 and had the advantage of playing La Quinta Country Club as winds finally picked up in the Coachella Valley. Scheffler and Brown faced the more challenging Stadium Course at PGA West, which is difficult even under calm conditions. Both finished with a score of 68.

Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Brown was competing in his seventh consecutive round after arriving from a Korn Ferry Tour event in the Bahamas. This didn’t hinder him from engaging in “rock, paper, scissors” with a young fan and sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th hole, followed by a 45-foot birdie on the 18th.

Scheffler faced the brunt of the wind, making two bogeys during his round. He was close to finishing with another bogey but saved par by sinking a 25-foot putt that swirled in at the last moment.

Kim leads at 22-under 194, with Scheffler and Brown just behind him. They will make up the final group on Sunday at the Stadium Course.

The young golfer is the most intriguing story. Brown could make history as the youngest winner in nearly a century, possibly longer.

Charles Kocsis won the Michigan Open in 1931 at 18 years and 6 months, slightly younger than Brown, but that event was considered regional. Young Tom Morris clinched his first British Open title in 1868 at the age of 17.

Brown secured a tie for 17th in the Korn Ferry Tour event in the Bahamas that concluded Wednesday, then took a private jet to reach California, arriving at his hotel about 14 hours before his tee time.

Tired? Not at his age, especially with this opportunity on the horizon.

“I feel great,” Brown stated. “I have another opportunity to see what we can accomplish tomorrow. Another 18 holes, and it should be fun.”

The other two players in the final group can expect plenty of excitement, too. Scheffler, who assisted Kim in getting a membership at Royal Oaks in Dallas, often competes with him during weekend games. They’ve faced off numerous times in the run-up to The American Express.

Scheffler confirmed that Kim came out on top in their last match, adding, “Yes, I returned a bit of his money.”

Thirteen years ago at PGA West, a 17-year-old Kim made it through the final edition of the former Q-school, having to wait until he turned 18 to join the PGA Tour. By age 21, he had already won The Players Championship, one of his four tour victories.

Kim has become a favorite among fellow players.

“Have you ever spent time with him? He’s hilarious,” Scheffler commented about Kim.

Sunday may be serious business, but they’re all aware of the tournament’s nature, remaining focused despite being in the final group. Scores have been low, even with challenging wind conditions.

Former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and Eric Cole each shot 66 at La Quinta, trailing by two shots. Tom Hoge, with a score of 65 at La Quinta, is another shot back. Nine players are separated by just four shots.

Brown’s story is particularly intriguing; he turned pro last year while still in high school. This marks his second consecutive year receiving a sponsor exemption to participate in The American Express.

“I’m 18 years old playing on the PGA Tour. How incredible is that?” Brown exclaimed. “I just finished high school about two weeks ago, so it’s nice to have that weight lifted off my shoulders. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

This weekend, UFC action makes its return as the promotion presents UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The event will feature a highly anticipated clash between two lightweight fan favorites, with Justin Gaethje facing Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship, marking the first UFC fight card since December 13.

Gaethje, a former title contender, comes into this fight having secured victories in three of his last four bouts, including a unanimous decision win over Rafael Fiziev in his most recent Octagon appearance. He currently ranks No. 5 in ESPN’s divisional standings. Meanwhile, Pimblett, ranked No. 7 by ESPN, remains undefeated in the UFC, with his latest victory being a third-round knockout against Michael Chandler.

A panel featuring four former fighters, trainers, and analysts shares their predictions and insights for the main event of UFC 324.

Lightweight Interim Title Fight

Expert Opinions

Paddy tends to keep his chin up and lacks discipline. When facing a technical fighter like Gaethje, who throws punches over the top while lowering his head, maintaining distance for 25 minutes without getting hit is challenging for Paddy. While he may find ways to win, like landing a submission, taking Justin down is unlikely. even if Paddy possesses speed and utilizes his reach well, he cannot match Gaethje’s power. I lean towards Gaethje. — Dustin Poirier

I support Gaethje, although not without doubts. finally, his takedown defense will be crucial, as Paddy relies heavily on that threat to succeed. When Gaethje is determined to avoid being taken down, he effectively does so. Paddy is also quite hittable, and against someone like Gaethje, that poses a significant risk. I was impressed by Gaethje’s adaptability in his last bout with Fiziev. If this were four years ago, I’d confidently pick Gaethje, but despite his wear and tear, I’m still backing him. — Anthony Smith

Justin’s fighting style presents a tough matchup for Pimblett. Many believe Pimblett will submit him, but few have managed to take down and submit Justin other than Khabib Nurmagomedov. If Paddy attempts wresting, he’ll endure punishment. His tendency to stand tall plays into Justin’s strengths as he excels at landing overhand punches. If Justin executes his game plan, he could dominate. With improvements in his approach and the guidance of his coach, Trevor Wittman, they will be well-prepared for this fight. — Din Thomas

What plan will Paddy implement? If he resorts to his typical strategy of grappling, it will heavily favor Gaethje, a former NCAA Division I wrestler. His ability to escape takedowns is underrated. If Paddy chooses to grapple, Gaethje could land powerful uppercuts during exchanges. yet, if Paddy opts to strike, capitalizing on his reach with jabs and teep kicks, he might secure a five-round decision. — Michael Chiesa