AI-assisted summary
• The New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10-7 to win the AFC championship.
• Players and executives credit head coach Mike Vrabel for the team’s turnaround from a 4-13 season.
• Team members emphasized the strong culture and brotherhood built through free agency and the draft.

DENVER – As Will Campbell answered questions amid a victorious celebration in the visitor’s locker room, where the New England Patriots toasted their 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game with cans of Miller Lite, Garrett Bradbury had to interject.

“He doesn’t even know what (expletive) means,” Bradbury shouted. 

How could a rookie left tackle put this into perspective? Bradbury, a seven-year veteran who was part of a high-impact free-agent class signed last offseason, could hardly describe the ‘absolute dogfight” that led to the Patriots becoming kings of the AFC – for a league-leading 12th time.  

“You can’t put into words what this means,” Bradbury said. “It doesn’t feel real. It’s like a simulation, like, ‘What’s going on?’

“The vibes in this locker room, the celebration with this team, it means everything.” 

The Patriots have heard from every corner of the football ecosystem how undeserving the pennant is. The easy regular-season schedule, the turnover luck, the fact that the Denver Broncos had to start Jarrett Stidham at quarterback in place of the injured Bo Nix. The Pats will be underdogs in Super Bowl 60 regardless of opponent.  

The 53 guys in the locker, the coaching staff, the front office – to put it mildly – do not care. How else do you go from 4-13 to 14-3, AFC East champions and now bound for the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2018 season? 

“You have to believe things, sometimes,” head coach Mike Vrabel said, “before you can see them.” 

Welcome to the Church of Vrabes, Pats Nation. 

“You get everybody to believe in something and buy in, and that doesn’t come without adversity,” said Vrabel, who repeated his popular refrain that his coaching calling is rooted in supporting the players. 

As a 14-year NFL linebacker, he’s been in their position. As someone who won three Super Bowls as part of the first era of the New England Patriots’ dynasty of the early 2000s, he’s been to the game’s mountaintop on multiple occasions and wants others to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with that. He wants it for their families who make sacrifices. For the players themselves. For the fans. 

“They’re fun to coach. They’re entertaining,” Vrabel said of his team. “They’ve been resilient. They’ve been very coachable. There’s a lot of connectivity in them. I appreciate what they do.” 

Having a second-year quarterback who is an MVP candidate in Drake Maye also helps when it comes to establishing winning ways. Now Maye and Vrabel did something not even Tom Brady and Bill Belichick could manage during their dynastic domination – win a playoff game at Mile High.

‘I respect and appreciate what the Patriots dynasty did, and unfortunately, they didn’t come out with some wins here, but we changed that narrative and look forward to bringing our best football to Santa Clara,’ Maye said. ‘That’ll be pretty special.”

Patriots turnaround engineered in offseason roster overhaul

Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said that the offseason priority, working with Vrabel, was finding players who “would fit our culture, that happened to be available, that were good players,” Wolf told USA TODAY Sports. “We were able to hit on some of those guys.” 

The key was that those signings, in most cases, outplayed the league-wide expectation of them. 

“Which is, really, a testament to their work ethic,” Wolf said. “It’s been fun to watch. It’s really cool to work with Mike and understand what he’s looking for in players. 

“It’s one of the coolest things about Mike – it’s all genuine. It’s all ‘This is what the expectation is.’ And if you’re not going to be up to it, you’re probably not going to be here too long. But it’s really cool to see guys come in here and trust the guy next to him and work for each other. It’s not a selfish group at all.” 

For defensive lineman Milton Williams, one of those coveted free agents, the postseason was a chance to stand out in the locker room. As of the divisional round, he was the only player who was still going at that point a year prior (as a member of the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles).

“Crazy. It’s crazy. I didn’t expect it this fast,” said Williams, who started believing this team could be special following a Week 5 win on the road against the Buffalo Bills on “Sunday Night Football.” “But we got a bunch of dogs that’s hungry. A lot of guys that have been counted out … nobody really believing in us all year, picking everybody else all year, all this noise. None of that matters when you go out on that field and do what you’re supposed to do.” 

Right tackle Morgan Moses, who was emotional coming off the field, called his sons upon entering the locker room. They were crying. He started crying more. He thought about how the Patriots went 9-0 on the road. In Moses’ view, it was the road less-traveled. 

“It took me 12 years to get here,” he said. “But I didn’t get here by myself.” 

That’s what a football team is, Moses said. And when it all works out, this is the outcome. 

“Just the brotherhood that we built,” Moses said. “All the guys that we bought in in free agency, hats off to our front office, the guys we drafted.” 

One example of the brotherhood is the bond Moses formed with Campbell, whose locker is adjacent to Moses’ at the team facility. 

“Will came to me and was like ‘Yo, I appreciate everything that you do. A lot of guys your age wouldn’t play through some of the things that you play through,’” Moses said. 

To hear that from the rookie he took under his wing from day one meant a lot. 

“I feel like I’ve learned more from him than he’s learned from me,” Moses said. “I feel like that’s the nature of the game.” 

‘We’ve been through so much.’ Pats point to Vrabel as team’s consistent

Campbell remembered telling Wolf and Vrabel during the pre-draft process that he wanted to be part of the organization “for reasons like this.” The years of losing at the end of Belichick’s tenure and the one season of 4-13 Jerod Mayo-led futility didn’t scare him. 

“Any time you walk through a place of work that’s the only goal in mind,” Campbell said. “We don’t show up to lose.  

“I’m just super-grateful to be here.”

Another rookie, running back TreVeyon Henderson, acknowledged the “rough seasons” before 2025. 

“Just being able to have Coach Vrabes come in and help turn this organization to be where we are now, it’s amazing,” he said. “But it took a lot of hard work. Yeah, it took a lot, man. We’ve been through so much this year.” 

The one constant in each player’s postgame message revolved around one person – Vrabel. After the Tennessee Titans made the mistake of firing him following the 2023 season, Vrabel went from being shown the door to opening new ones for a new group of players. 

“He’s meant everything,” tight end Hunter Henry said. “Just his mentality, his balance of being a player but also coaching in this league. Demanding a lot but also understanding us in a way has been huge.” 

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who had five receptions for 17 yards, said he realized leadership in the NFL flows from the top down. Holding everyone accountable becomes a self-policing standard in the locker room among the players themselves. 

“The camaraderie and the team chemistry that he’s built from the head coaching position,” Diggs said, “I hope he wins Coach of the Year.”

Bradbury said the term player-friendly is thrown around a lot but it often takes form in different ways – few with as much impact as Vrabel’s had in roughly one year. 

“He’s hard on us when he needs to be but he’s also fun a lot of time,” Bradbury said. “I think this whole locker room will ride with that guy. 

“He’s absolutely unbelievable. To share the vision that he wanted in April, and to see it come to fruition – and you’re never arrived, you’re constantly trying to show who you are and put it on film.” 

Bradbury called the 2025 season the most rewarding year of his football career. 

A journey that includes a flight back to New England, eventually, as a massive snowstorm blanketed the northeast United States and delayed the Pats’ homecoming. As of Vrabel’s postgame meeting with the team, the buses for the airport were leaving the hotel at 8 a.m.

To that end, he instituted no curfew for his players Sunday night in Denver. If they missed the bus the next morning, however, they would not play in the Super Bowl. Nobody in their right mind would want to miss out on the ride, figuratively or literally, at this point.

The stage is set for Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara. The NFL playoff bracket has narrowed the field from 14 teams competing to two.

The New England Patriots will meet the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl in a battle to hoist the Lombardi trophy.

Will the Seahawks soar to new heights in Santa Clara in two weeks or will the Patriots make history and win an NFL-best seventh Super Bowl? New England and Seattle are bound to deliver a classic; some NFL fans will scramble to figure out who comes out on top.

Super Bowl picks: Patriots vs. Seahawks predictions

Ayrton Ostly, NFL writer: Seahawks 28, Patriots 17

Seattle proved its mettle on the big stage against a tough opponent in Los Angeles on an off day for its defense (479 total yards allowed). New England is well-coached with a top quarterback, but it just doesn’t have the firepower on either side of the ball to hold up against what the Seahawks have assembled. Sam Darnold came out on top against Chris Shula. Time for him to prove doubters wrong again on the biggest stage.

Jacob Camenker, NFL writer: Seahawks 24, Patriots 17

Mike Vrabel deserves a lot of credit for guiding the Patriots to the Super Bowl, but it will be incredibly hard for them to keep their run going against the Seahawks’ stalwart defense.

Seattle ranked No. 2 in defensive EPA per play during the 2025 NFL season, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, second to only the Houston Texans. Mike Macdonald’s defense is a strong, attacking unit that marries excellent coverage to a fearsome, multi-faceted pass rush.

The latter unit figures to give the Patriots the most trouble, as their offensive line has struggled to hold up in front of Drake Maye. The second-year quarterback has been sacked five times in each of the team’s three playoff games thus far, which has hampered his ability to consistently make downfield passing plays.

The Patriots have been able to win games despite this, leaning on their elite defense to limit opponents to a playoff-best 8.7 points per game. Achieving similar results against the Seahawks could allow Vrabel’s squad to keep the game close and potentially win a defensive battle – just like the team did in its 13-3 Super Bowl 53 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

However, if Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker and Jaxon Smith-Njigba can continue to perform well after averaging 36 points per game over their first two playoff games, it may be hard for Maye and Co. to keep pace against an elite defense.

Jack McKessy, NFL writer: Seahawks 31, Patriots 20

In two postseason appearances so far this season, the Seattle Seahawks have looked absolutely dominant in every phase of the game. Quarterback Sam Darnold will be coming off one of the best games of his career in the biggest game of his career to lead the offense once again after back-to-back 30+ point outings to begin the playoffs. Seattle’s defense also just held the Rams, one of the NFL’s best offenses, to fewer than 30 points and a 2-for-10 conversion rate on third- and fourth-down attempts.

The Patriots and head coach Mike Vrabel deserve their flowers for the incredible turnaround they pulled off this year, going 14-3 and winning an AFC title coming off back-to-back four-win seasons. But to get to this point, New England’s defense benefited from performances among the career worsts from opposing quarterbacks Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud, then an injury to Broncos starter Bo Nix in the divisional round. Meanwhile, the lights have appeared bright for quarterback Drake Maye, who has had a shaky postseason after an MVP-caliber regular season.

Seattle looks poised to capitalize on the Patriots’ flaws, while New England can’t just rely on Darnold turning back into a pumpkin after his outstanding NFC championship game outing.

Nick Brinkerhoff, NFL writer: Seahawks 34, Patriots 17

It might be officially known as the NFC championship game, but it was actually Super Bowl 60 when the Seahawks defeated the Rams. Seattle’s matchup against New England will now be a two-week-long coronation for the new champions of the league, who shouldn’t have to break a sweat to knock off the AFC champion Patriots, who barely beat the Chargers, Texans and Broncos en route to Santa Clara.

Sam Darnold has looked unstoppable running the offense in the postseason and the Seahawks’ defense can make even the most electric offenses look mediocre. Strong in all three phases, they are simply better than a Patriots team that is ahead of schedule – as evidenced further by Drake Maye’s struggles thus far. Seattle gets its revenge for Super Bowl 49, winning the franchise’s second Lombardi in convincing fashion. 

Tom Viera, NFL writer/editor: Seahawks 27, Patriots 20

What an incredible feat by Drake Maye and the upstart Patriots to reach the Super Bowl. They deserve their flowers, but the Patriots’ offense struggled to score touchdowns this season, finishing 22nd in red zone efficiency. There’s been plenty of chatter about New England’s schedule and that will come to bear in the Big Game.

The Super Bowl will be just the second game of the season for the Patriots west of the Mississippi River. Yup, that’s how favorable it’s been.

Seattle’s defense has been the best unit all season, ranking first in defensive DVOA according to FTN. The Patriots’ offensive line has struggled, allowing 15 sacks across their three playoff games. The Seahawks finished the regular season with the sixth-fewest yards allowed per game (285.6) and were the best scoring defense (17.1 PPG allowed).

The Patriots might be able to slow down Kenneth Walker and the run game with a healthy Milton Williams, as their defense ranks fourth in EPA per rush when he plays. However, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is having an outstanding season and proved it again in the NFC title game. He’s a game-changer, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak uses him in various ways that will make it tough for the Patriots’ top cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, to shadow him.

Unfortunately, for Maye and any other quarterback who plays for New England in the future, they will be in the shadow of Tom Brady. The next dynasty in Foxborough might be on the horizon, but it’s not their turn to lift the Lombardi Trophy. Seattle will control this game – beginning to end – and avenge their Super Bowl defeat just over a decade later.

How to watch Super Bowl 2026

NBC owns the rights to broadcast Super Bowl 60 this year. The game will be available to stream on either Fubo (which offers a free trial) and Peacock.

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBC
• Streaming: Fubo, Peacock
• Location: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California

• New England Patriots will appear in a record 12th Super Bowl and can win a record seventh Lombardi Trophy.
• The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks have met in a Super Bowl before, when the Patriots won Super Bowl 49, one of the most memorable Super Sundays ever.
• Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots head coach and former player, can become the first to win a Super Bowl as both a player and coach for the same team.

SEATTLE — After five months and 284 games, the matchup for Super Bowl 60, aka Super Bowl LX, is set − the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks set to face off at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8.

As is typically the case, this Super Sunday stage will be packed with storylines, plots, subplots and grist for the football mill as these teams − neither of them playoff qualifiers a year ago − vie for the NFL’s grandest prize.

Here’s what the football world will be talking about during the buildup to kickoff over the next two weeks:

Super Bowl history for the Patriots?

No NFL entity has won seven Lombardi Trophies … except for former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who won six with New England before capturing a seventh with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the Pats, who will be appearing on Super Sunday for the 12th time – most ever by a franchise – now have a seventh championship in their crosshairs and could break their deadlock with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowls won by a single organization.

TB12/BB-less Super Bowl history for Patriots?

New England more or less ruled the NFL roost for the first two decades of the 21st century, their unparalleled dynasty unfolding in multiple acts with Brady, head coach Bill Belichick and quite a cast of supporting actors – the Oscars go to Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Adam Vinatieri – along the way. But the Pats have never had a sterling silver season sans Brady or Belichick. The 1985 AFC champs were swallowed whole by the ’85 Bears in Super Bowl 20, and the ’96 squad, led by coach Bill Parcells and QB Drew Bledsoe, unable to overcome the Brett Favre Packers in Super Bowl 31. Six years on from Brady and in their second season post-Belichick, coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye – and a cadre of others who joined up during last offseason’s makeover, can draw a clear line of demarcation between these new edition Patriots and the dynastic ones New England’s, ahem, long-suffering fans of yesteryear used to root for.

History for a distinguished quarterback draft class

The 2018 and 2024 drafts – at least we think so on the latter – have produced bumper crops of signature QBs in recent years. Seahawks QB Sam Darnold was the third overall pick in 2018 (by the New York Jets), yet hasn’t compiled the individual accolades of draftmates Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson or Baker Mayfield. Yet. But the late-blooming Darnold could become the first QB of his class to lift the Lombardi. The same could be true for the Patriots’ Drake Maye, one of six quarterbacks selected in Round 1 two years ago. A finalist for league MVP a year after the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels had an extraordinary Rookie of the Year campaign – which fell one win shy of a Super Bowl appearance – Maye could similarly set the bar for the 2024 passers.

Super Bowl 49 vibes

Super Bowl 60 will occur 11 years after, arguably, the most memorable Super Sunday ever – the Pats’ 28-24 defeat of the Seahawks in Super Bowl 49, ending their 10-year title mini-drought, thanks to Seattle QB Russell Wilson’s decisive and controversial goal-line interception in the final seconds. That play breathed fresh life into the Patriots’ dynasty and ended any chance that the “Legion of Boom” era Seahawks had of becoming one, that team slowly fraying in the years after – some of their players still incredulous that Wilson didn’t hand off to running back Marshawn Lynch for what could have been the short-yardage TD that would have potentially rewritten league history. This game will look different, the Patriots likely to wear blue in this game (they wore white in Super Bowl 49), but it will also be staged in an NFC West stadium (indoors at the Cardinals’ in 2015, outside at the 49ers’ this year), but there’s little doubt not-so-ancient history will be dredged up by the rematch.

Super Bowl history for Mike Vrabel?

New England’s first-year head coach, who won three Super Bowl rings as a linebacker with the franchise in the first half of the Brady-Belichick dynasty, could make a unique mark in league history. With one more victory, Vrabel would become the first person in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as both a player and coach for the same team. It would also be the Patriots’ 18th win of the season (regular season and postseason combined), which would match the club record of the 2007 team that went 16-0 in the regular season and finished 18-1 after losing Super Bowl 42, a game Vrabel also played in.

Happy 50th, Seahawks

The year-long celebration of America’s semiquincentennial birthday – a fancy way of saying 250^th – pales in comparison to Seattle completing its 50^th NFL season, perhaps in grand style. The Seahawks can match the Buccaneers, their 1976 expansion brethren, with a second Super Bowl trophy 12 years after winning their first.

Sean McVay siren song?

We’re not breaking news here, but the potential departure of the Los Angeles Rams head coach for a TV job – speculation about his future has run rampant before and doubtless will again, especially if QB Matthew Stafford retires or the coaching staff gets raided – could surface again given what a brilliant guy he is, plus the fact he has little left to prove under the headset after leading the Rams to the Super Bowl twice and winning it once in nine seasons. McVay, who turned 40 on Saturday, also has two young children, including a newborn who arrived in December. Whether he’s ready to take a break from the head coaching grind remains TBD … but also almost certain to spark renewed questions about his future. It’s also worth noting that the 2026 Rams, assuming Stafford continues to play, would seem to have a brighter outlook than the squads that almost immediately had to reboot and reload – DT Aaron Donald, CB Jalen Ramsey and WR Cooper Kupp were linchpins of the 2021 Rams – following the defeat of the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56.

DENVER – Turns out that neither the home team nor Mother Nature were the match for the New England Patriots with a trip to Super Bowl 60 at stake.

“I’ll be damned if we let a little snow stop us from going to the Super Bowl,” Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte told USA TODAY Sports after the 10-7 defeat of the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game on Jan. 25.

“We get a lot of money to play in the weather, no matter the circumstances. Whether it’s rain, snow, sleet, a blizzard, it doesn’t matter.”

The weather mess unfolded as the second half began at Empower Field, with a steady snow, swirling wind, limited visibility and a slippery turf quickly becoming game-changing factors. With the turf covered in snow, yard-markers were blurred.

And footing was even worse. The Patriots started one drive in the fourth quarter with running back Rhamondre Stevenson slipping to fall face-first at the snap before an apparent handoff. Then quarterback Drake Maye slipped to the turf.

The three-yard loss was much better than the would-be disaster of a fumble.

The elements certainly factored heavily in the two missed field goals apiece by kickers Andy Borregales (Patriots) and Wil Lutz (Broncos), as they combined for the dubious distinction of engaging in the first conference title game with three missed field goals since 1991. Add a 26-yard shanked punt from New England’s Bryce Baringer and the kicking game was essentially, off the charts, as they say.

Yet it was even worse for the passing games – especially Denver’s. Jarrett Stidham, the backup replacing injured Broncos starter Bo Nix, had 10 yards net passing in the second half. And he threw a fateful interception to Christian Gonzalez on Denver’s final possession that virtually sealed the outcome.

“The conditions weren’t great. But they had to play in them, too,” Broncos tight end Adam Trautman told USA TODAY Sports. “If you had said we’d have homefield advantage in the AFC championship game, we’d take a snow game, too.

“They were just better than us today … (And) you feel the margin of error is super-small in this type of game.”

Patriots’ ground game a difference when the snow fell

As the flow of the game changed, though, the Patriots built an advantage on a consistent rushing attack. New England rushed 38 times for 141 yards, led by Stevenson’s 71 yards on 25 carries.

Elements or not, the Patriots controlled enough of the tempo when it became apparent that just getting first downs – let alone field goals and touchdowns – represented a monumental challenge for Denver’s offense in the second half.

“It was definitely a little slick,” Maye said of the footing.

Still, the Patriots quarterback escaped from the pocket for a 28-yard run that was the game’s longest.

And, he added, “It was good enough on the last run to get around the edge.”

Maye iced the game with a seven-yard scamper around left end on a third-and-five. He finished with 10 scrambles for 65 yards and regardless of the elements was able to sting Denver’s defense with his legs, just as Buffalo’s Josh Allen did a week earlier.

It’s just that the degree of difficulty was a lot tougher on Sunday.

Then again, that depends on one’s perspective. After all, the Patriots are headquartered in Foxborough, where “Patriot Weather” is a real thing.

“This weather don’t mess with us,” Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore told USA TODAY Sports. “We play in the snow, play in the rain. It don’t matter. We’ve played in weather much worse than this. I feel like that’s to our advantage.”

It sure turned out that way on Sunday.

One thing for certain: Snow will not be a factor in the next game, with Super Bowl 60 set to be staged in Santa Clara, California.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell

St. John’s used a second half surge and held on to beat Xavier, 88-83, on Saturday, Jan. 24 to get Pitino his 900th career win. With the victory, Pitino is now fourth place among Division I men’s basketball coaches for all-time wins.

After the Red Storm pulled off the road victory, Pitino was mobbed by his players, who donned shirts to mark the occasion. He didn’t want to take the credit for the elite achievement.

‘Players get coaches wins, and nothing sweeter than getting 900 because of these guys,’ he said on the broadcast.

When asked how he was able to get win No. 900, Pitino praised his family, adding he is still enjoying the job at 73 years old.

‘I’ve got a great family, great wife, who have kept me young,’ he said. ‘They allow me to work with these guys 12-13 hours a day, and I’m just enjoying it more than ever. Great group, great group to coach.’ 

Speaking of family, it played a part in the game. An interesting storyline was the achievement came thanks to Pitino beating his son Richard, who is the coach at Xavier. Pitino said he doesn’t like to be victorious over his son, and praised his work with the Musketeers.

‘I don’t like beating him, obviously, but it’s beating Xavier,’ Pitino said. ‘Richard did a phenomenal job. … I can’t love him or be more proud of him.’

The win moved St. John’s to 15-5 on the season. It now has won six in a row to start Big East play at 8-1.

The SEC continues to be wide open in men’s basketball.

The latest victim to fall in the conference is No. 16 Florida, as the defending national champions lost to Auburn 76-67 on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. It’s the Tigers’ first signature conference win of the Steven Pearl era.

Keyshawn Hall’s team-high 24 points willed the Tigers to their first win against the Gators in Gainesville since Feb. 10, 1996.

‘Boom. That’s Auburn being Auburn! That’s Auburn Family!’ former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the Tigers’ win.

The win also marks the second upset in the SEC on Saturday and moves both teams to 5-3 in the conference standings, two things that show the conference remains wide open going into February.

Hall played a big part in Auburn being able to head into the locker room with a 15-point lead at halftime. The Tigers’ senior guard had 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half, including a 3-of-4 mark from behind the arc. He finished with 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.

Florida trailed at halftime 43-28 but rallied back to tie the game at 54 then at 56-56 at the 8:09 mark following a pair of free throws from Thomas Haugh. But that’d be as close as Todd Golden’s squad would get; Auburn never allowed Florida to be closer than five points for the remaining eight minutes.

Haugh led Florida with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field and had 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Two additional Gators finished in double figures, as Urban Klavzar and Rueben Chinyelu added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Alex Condon, who tested the NBA draft waters last offseason following the Gators’ national championship, struggled mightily for Florida. Despite grabbing nine rebounds and recording three blocks, the 6-foot-11 forward was held to one point on 0-for-4 shooting from the field and turned the ball over four times. It’s the third time this season that an opponent has held Condon to single-digit points.

Auburn will test its now three-game win streak on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at home against Texas at 7 p.m. ET, while Florida will look to bounce back on the road against South Carolina at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 28.

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The UFC’s debut on Paramount+ ended in extraordinary fashion – in a brutal, action-packed fight.

Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46 and 49-46) for the interim lightweight title in a five-round fight shown by Paramount+, the UFC’s new live-streaming partner.

Gaethje, known as “The Highlight,’’ lived up to his nickname during the action-packed bout. He bloodied Pimblett, took punishment and dished out even more.

Both still were swinging as the wild affair ended.

What Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett said after fight

Gaethje said the strategy was to put his head in Pimblett’s chest and push him backward. But Gaethje deviated from the plan in the first round as he looked for a knockout.

“Yeah, my coach was definitely upset with me after the first round,’’ he said. “I just love this (stuff) so much. It’s really hard to control myself sometimes. … And so my coach had to really pull me back.’’ 

Still, Gaethje inflicted damage early.

“I’m not going to lie,’’ Pimblett said. “He hit me with a body shot in the first round. He hit me in the solar plexus and it got me…

“I’ll be back better. It’s as simple as that. You haven’t seen the last of me.’’

Gaethje seemed awestruck that Pimblett finished the fight on his feet despite taking so much punishment.

“My God, what a … gangster,’’ Gaethje said.

Pimblett lauded Gaethje.

“I wanted to leave with that belt, but there’s no other man I’d rather lose to than The Highlight,’’ Pimblett said, referring to Gaethje by his nickname. “… It shows why he’s a legend right there.’’

Gaethje, 37, won for the fourth time in five fights and his record improved to 27-5

Pimblett, the 31-year-old from Great Britain, lost for the first time in 10 fights and his record fell to 23-4.

The main event capped a 12-fight card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Jan. 24.

ESPN had broadcast UFC fights for seven years before the UFC signed a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount+, a subscriber channel. The pay-per-view rates routinely charged by ESPN for now are a thing of the past.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, highlights and analysis from UFC 324:

Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett: Round-by-round analysis

Here’s how their interim lightweight title fight played out:

Round 1

Brits in the crowd wearing blonde wigs, a nod to their man, Paddy Pimblett. (Pimblett’s got the hair in cornrows as he heads into the octagon.) There’s less enthusiasm for Gaethje, who comes out draped in an American flag. Now, time to fight.

Gaethje opens with a leg kick, then throws a right that falls short. But he connects with a body kick. Pimblett lands a left and Gaethje answers with a right. Pimblett active with his feet and fists, but Gaethje scores and comes in for … the kill? He’s on top of Pimblett and pounds away before Pimblett is allowed up. Gaethje looks dangerous. Pimblett scores with a leg kick and knee and the punches are flying. Gaethje wraps up Pimblett on the fence before they break free. Gaethje lands a combination. Pimblett active with the kicks. Pimblett asks for a moment and appears to have been poked in the eye with Gaethje’s right hand. The ring doctor enters the octagon and Pimblett indicates he’s ready to go. Gaethje is warned. Pimblett scoring at will with kicks but now it’s turning into a brawl. Gaethje 10, Pimblett  9

Round 2

Gaethje lands a left. Gaethje takes yet another leg kick but now he’s on top of Pimblett and on the ground. They’re back up and Pimblett knees again and Gaethje answers with a big punch. Gaethje blocks a kick and Pimblett slips to the ground. They trade shots and Gaethje scores more. Huge swings. They’re wrapped up and Pimblett’s kneeing again. Pimblett scores with knees and Gaethje scores with body shots. Gaethje pulls down Pimblett again and connects with punches. Down goes Pimblett! Cut down by a left. Gaethje is on top of Pimblett and blasting. Pimblett’s bleeding and probably exhausted. Gaethje is down again and pummeling Pimblett. His right eye is bleeding baldly. Looks like a mess. A replay shows Pimblett may have been poked in the eye again. Gaethje 20, Pimblett 18

Round 3

Pimblett down again but back on his feet. His vision is likely impaired but he’s up to pro-Gaethje chants of “USA, USA.’’ Fighters look tactical now. Fighters trade shots. Pimblett scores with his jab. Gaethje getting battered with kicks. Gaethje charging forward again. But Pimblett is connecting with the jab even as the blood streaks down his face. Pimblett scores with more kicks, too. Pimblett surprisingly effective after getting crushed in the second round. Gaethje’s right hand might be compromised. And if it is, he’s in real trouble. Gaethje takes a knee to the groin and gets time to recover. The fight resumes. Pimblett getting more and more aggressive. Gaethje 29, Pimblett 28

Round 4

They’ve got Pimblett’s cut stopped. No longer looks ghoulish. He comes out firing lefts. Gaethje definitely appears to have lost his momentum. But he scores with two rights, fights off a takedown and is on top of Pimblett on the canvas. They’re up and separated. Gaethje knocks Pimblett down with a left, but the Brit gets back on his feet quickly. Gaethje lands a big right and has Pimblett against the fence and lands a flurry of shots! Gaethje battering Pimblett, but Pimblett hanging on. Brutal. Pimblett is bleeding again and looks like the Joker. Gaethje stalks. Gaethje scoring with solid shots. Gaethje missing the mark with big shot and Pimblett lands a flurry before Gaethje wraps him up and sneaks in a few punches. Gaethje 39, Pimblett 37

Round 5

The crowd rises in a standing ovation as the final round begins. Pimblett lands a knee to the face and Gaethje lands a big right. Gaethje lands two more hard punches. What a fight. Pimblett turns aggressive, attempts a takedown but Gaethje fighting it off. Pimblett’s got him on the fence but Gaethje’s still fighting him off. He breaks free and fires the right hand. Pimblett misses the spinning elbow and eats three punches. Pimblett turns it on and pummels Gaethje. Gaethje hanging on. What a fight, a war. It’s over. And the two men embrace. Gaethje 48, Pimblett 47

Sean O’Malley def. Song Yadong by unanimous decision

At times O’Malley looked tentative. But certainly not in the third and final round.

He finished with gusto, enough to defeat Song by unanimous decision in their bantamweight fight.

All three judges scored it 29-28 in O’Malley’s favor.

Song punished O’Malley with kicks. But O’Malley delivered the more visible punishment.

With Song bleeding from the nose and mouth in the third round, it looked even more gruesome after O’Malley kneed Song in the face. It was the lasting image of an impressive performance.

O’Malley, the 31-year-old former bantamweight champion, improved to 19-3.

Song, a 28-year-old from China, fell to 22-9-1.

Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong: Round-by-round analysis

Here’s how their bantamweight bout played out:

Round 1

Sean O’Malley, at 5-foot-11, has a three-inch height advantage over Song. But Song is stockier. Will the extra muscle matter? More chants of “USA, USA!’’ Of course, Song is from China and O’Malley from Montana. The fighters are trading low leg kicks. None of them are fierce. O’Malley scores with a left. Chants: “Sean O’Malley!’’ Song charges in but O’Malley evades. O’Malley scores with a jab and gets moving. Can’t be a sitting duck for Song. O’Malley dancing, out of danger. For now. More exchange of kicks. Song on the chase. Song scores a takedown and there’s 30 seconds left in the round. Song unable to land anything of consequences. O’Malley 10, Song 9

Round 2

Song knocks O’Malley off balance with a leg kick. Song lands a right and he’s throwing punches with more force. Song connects with two left hooks. Song has O’Malley from behind. Song is stomping on O’Malley’s feet and O’Malley is throwing elbows. Song scores another takedown but O’Malley is up again. He takes a left hand and may be suffering from all of the kicks. O’Malley 19, Song 19

Round 3

O’Malley comes out tentative? Song throws some big punches that miss and O’Malley seems to know how dangerous they are. O’Malley takes another leg kick but he responds with two solid lefts. He lands another left and now O’Malley seems to be in a groove and evades some punches. Song bleeding from the mouth and nose and O’Malley’s punches clearly hit the mark. Two more lefts. Song attempts a takedown and fails. O’Malley lands a hard right. Song charging forward but not scoring with any authority. Song attempts another takedown and takes a knee from O’Malley. The blood is pouring from Song, and confidence oozing from O’Malley. O’Malley 29, Song 28

Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Derrick Lewis by TKO

Lewis found himself on his back in the second round after what appeared to be a harmless slip. And he showed no urgency to get up.

What a bad idea.

Cortes-Acosta lowered himself onto the canvas and battered Lewis with punches until the referee halted the heavyweight fight.

Cortes-Acosta, the 34-year-old from the Dominican Republic, improved to 17-2. Lewis, the 40-year-old from Texas, fell to 29-13.

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis: Round-by-round analysis

Here’s how their heavyweight bout played out:

Round 1

Derrick Lewis unleashes a couple of leg kicks. No luck, even as the crowed chants “USA, USA!’’ Context: Waldo Cortes-Acosta is from the Dominican Republic. And he backpedals fast when Lewis, the American star, fires punches that do not land. Cortes-Acosta inching toward Lewis. Lewis lands a left. Barely. Slow start. Cortes-Acosta looks wary of Lewis’ power, but Lewis has yet to land anything big. Cortes-Acosta lands a serviceable left and a lower leg kick. Lewis avoid an overhand right and scores with one of his own. Lewis kicks, Cortes-Acosta grabs his leg and Lewis is allowed on his feet. Lewis lands a nice left kick but can’t find the range with his punches. Cortes-Acosta 10, Lewis 9

Round 2

Both fighters come out a little tentative and suddenly Lewis charges forward. Again, up go the chants: “USA, USA!’’ Cortes-Acosta scores. Maybe these guys can try sumo wrestling. But Cortes-Acosta lands a solid jab and fires a couple more. Lewis at the jab buffet, eating them by the handful. Lewis lands a left but Cortes-Acosta signals he’s OK. Which means he felt it. Lewis slips and falls back on his back. Now Cortes-Acosta lowers himself on the mat and pounds away. And it’s over! The ref stops the fight! It’s Cortes-Acosta by TKO.

Natalia Silva def. Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision

Silva got showered before she even left the octagon. Showered in boos.

The judges awarded her a unanimous decision victory over Namajunas, but the fans responded to the decision with boos.

“I’m sorry, guys, because this was not my best moment,’’ Silva said through a translator.

But it was the judges who angered the crowd. All three scored the women’s flyweight fight 29-28 in favor of Silva.

Silva, a 28-year-old Brazilian, won for the 14th time in a row dating back to 2018 and improved to 20-5-1. Namajunas, a 33-year-old from Colorado, fell to 15-8.

Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas: Round-by-round analysis

Here’s how their women’s flyweight fight played out:

Round 1

Lots of fast twitching as Natalia Silva and Rose Namajunas feint and jockey at the center of the octagon. Namajunas lands a left and a low leg kick but not much action yet. Namajunas lands a right and … what’s Silva waiting for? Silva shaking her hips like she’s doing the salsa. I don’t think you get points for that, do you? Namajunas lands another right and then a low leg kick. Silva strikes back with a low leg kick, but so far has been underwhelming. Namajunas scores again with a punch. Silva scores with a right but an uneventful round. Namajunas 10, Silva 9

Round 2

Namajunas capitalizes on her quick start with two shots early. Although she’s not landing many of her leg kicks, they do seem to be creating a comfortable distance between her and Silva. Still more dancing than punching or kicking. Silva takes down Namajunas, but she pops up on her feet and the two fighters clinch along the fence. Faint boos. Strange they’re not louder. Namajunas scores the takedown. Can she set up for the ground and pound? Silva has her wrapped up with her legs as Namajunas throws punches that aren’t landing with great force. But she was in control. Namajunas 20, Silva 18

Round 3

Silva comes out more aggressive and lands some blows. But Namajunas not backing up. In fact, she lands a couple of lefts but not without suffering some damage. Now Namajunas starting to backpedal more. But Silva not seizing the moment. Namajunas appears to be bleeding from the bridge of her nose and she takes a kick to the head. Silva staying active but doesn’t look especially dangerous. The fighters are on the ground now and Silva is delivering some punches before she takes down Namajunas again. Has 30 seconds to end it, but Namajunas is back on her feet and pursuing Silva. It’s Silva’s round, but hard to imagine it’s her fight. Namajunas 29, Silva 28

Jean Silva def. Arnold Allen by unanimous decision

Silva was crying as the fight was ending and barked when it was over.

The behavior followed his victory over Allen by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). The three-round featherweight bout featured something rare, if never seen before.

In the third round, Silva got Allen onto the canvas and jumped off of his back as if he were a trampoline.

Silva, a 29-year-old Brazilian, improved to 17-3. Allen, a 32-year-old from England, fell to 20-4.

Jean Silva vs. Arnold Allen: Round-by-round analysis

Here’s how their featherweight fight played out:

Round 1

Arnold Allen opens with an underwhelming low leg kick. Jean Silva lands a body shot. But no real fireworks yet as the fighters assess each other. Another leg kick from Allen. Crowd already sounds restless. Silva noticeably thicker. Allen lands a left and another as he bounces on the balls of his feet. Silva unleashes a high kick that’s blocked. Allen still moving and Silva unable to catch up. Allen lands a low legal kick. Allen scores with a kick and follows up with a solid left. Silva struggling with Allen’s style. Silva lands a left and Allen immediately responds with a left and Silva pours it on as the round ends with a kick and a left! Allen 10, Silva 9

Round 2

Silva emerges with a knot on his left temple. He connects with a combination and then eats a left and right from Allen. Allen connects with a kick and jab but Silva takes him down and Silva delivers a head kick. Allen fires back and it’s getting delightfully messy. Allen drills Silva with a left and takes an uppercut. Silva appears to be bleeding under his left eye – the result of Allen’s fists. It’s a back-and-forth bout, two game fighters. Allen lands a knee and takes a spinning elbow and it’s getting wild. Now Allen’s bleeding from the nose while Silva delivers leg knicks. Allen unleashes two big leg kicks. Silva lands another spinning elbow and sticks out his tongue. Allen 19, Silva 19

Round 3

Silva comes out firing! Fists and legs flying. Then the action slows. At least temporarily. Silva strikes hard with the right. He drills Allen again and those punches look fierce. Allen waved him and now has him pinned against a fence. Allen trying to take Silva down but Silva breaks free. Silva lands a right elbow and takes down Allen after Allen appeared to be complaining about something. Silva lands a kick and an elbow and the momentum builds for Silva. Silva points to the center of the canvas, wants to brawl. Allen declines. Silva lands two head kicks, knocks Allen to the floor and then jumps off Allen’s back! What? Yep, jumped off his back! Silva 29, Allen 28

UFC 324: Time, PPV, streaming for Gaethje vs Pimblett

The highly anticipated fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will take place on Saturday, Jan. 24 and can be streamed on Paramount+, marking the sport’s debut on the service.

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 24
• Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
• Early Prelims start time: 5 p.m. ET
• Early Prelims card stream: Paramount+
• Prelims card start time: 7 p.m. ET
• Prelims card stream: Paramount+
• Main card start time: 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+

Catch UFC action now all fights on Paramount+

Dominick Cruz entering UFC Hall of Fame

Dominick Cruz, considered one of the greatest bantamweight fighters in UFC history, was announced as a member of the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame class.

It was a no-brainer.

Cruz, 40, was a two-time bantamweight champion, winning the title in 2010 and winning it again in 2016. He finished his career 24-4.

Josh Hokit shows worst of UFC with Brittney Griner comments

Heavyweight Josh Hokit, the “winner’’ of the second fight of UFC’s debut on Paramount+, reflected the worst of the sport.

After stopping Denzel Freeman by TKO, Hokit recited a post-victory poem that ended with, “And P.S., Brittney Griner is a man.’’

Taking cheap shots at Griner, the legendary women’s basketball player and 10-time WNBA All-Star, is bad enough. But members of the broadcast team endorsed Hokit’s outrageous remarks as entertaining. Joe Rogan, who had a chance to admonish Hokit, instead said, “Brittney Griner catching strays.’’

Paramount+ offered no comment on the matter.

Does Bruce Buffer get a do-over?

Bruce Buffer, UFC’s ring announcer, left an unfortunate mark on UFC’s debut on Paramount+. Before the first prelim fight, Buffer botched the introduction of fighters Ty Miller and Adam Fugitt by reading their bios in the wrong order.

UFC 324 fight results: Prelims

• Umar Nurmagomedov def. Deiveson Figueiredo by unanimous decision, bantamweight
• Ateba Gautier def. Andrey Pulyaev by unanimous decision, middleweight
• Nikita Krylov def. Modestas Bukauskas by KO (3rd round), light heavyweight
• Alex Perez def. Charles Johnson by TKO (1st round), flyweight

UFC 324 fight results: Early prelims

• Ty Miller def. Adam Fugitt by TKO (1st round), welterweight
• Josh Hokit def. Denzel Freeman by TKO (1st round), heavyweight

UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett predictions

Action Network: Pimblett

The 31-year-old Pimblett has looked better and better in every fight, and the market is banking on him continuing to improve against 37-year-old Justin Gaethje. The former interim champion Gaethje is getting another crack at the interim title and has only ever lost to champion-level opponents, with all five of his losses coming against men who’ve at least won an interim title. That makes this a fairly big step up for Pimblett, whose best win to date was likely his third-round finish of Michael Chandler last year. Of course, that’s the same Michael Chandler who took Gaethje to a decision a few years ago, albeit an early version.

Dan Hooker: Gaethje

In an interview on Submission Radio, Hooker, the UFC lightweight fighter, said of Gaethje, ‘I think he’s gonna put Paddy to the test. …Gaethje’s takedown defense is pretty sharp, I don’t see (Pimblett taking Gaethje down). We haven’t seen Paddy get in there that often and mix it up with the best guys in their prime.”

Dustin Poirier: Gaethje

In an interview on the Ariel Helwani Show, Poirier, the former interim UFC lightweight champion, said ‘It’s a fun fight. I’m leaning towards Justin, but we’ll see. I just think he’s been in those 25-minute fights. He’s been in dogfights before. I think Paddy’s going to have a tough time stopping him on the feet. And I don’t think Paddy’s going to be able to get him down, so he’s going to have to fight with him unless Paddy can stay super disciplined for 25 minutes, stay at distance, pick his shots. …Justin’s just a bigger puncher, and he’ll put himself in harm’s way to land one of those shots. It’s tough to stay away from him for 25 minutes. I think Justin stops him.’

UFC 324 odds: Gaethje vs Pimblett fight

Odds via BetMGM as of Wednesday.

• Justin Gaethje (+190) vs. Paddy Pimblett (-235),  For interim lightweight title

Where is UFC 324: Gaethje and Pimblett?

UFC 324: Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.

UFC 324 live stream

The Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett marks a historic turn for the UFC. All fights, from eraly prelims to the main card, will be available on Paramount+.

UFC 324 price

Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will fight for the interim lightweight title in the main event of UFC’s debut on Paramount+. Say goodbye to the pay-per-view fees, but don’t forget the Paramount+ subscription fee of $8.99 that gets you access to UFC fights — starting with UFC 324 Saturday, Jan. 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Are Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison fighting at UFC 324?

A highly anticipated bout between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunez was canceled after Harrison suffered a neck injury that required surgery. That elevated a bantamweight matchup between Sean O’Malley and Song Yadong.

Ring walk time for Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett main event

The Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett fight card consists of 13 fights and will begin at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, with early prelim fights. The main event for the Gaethje vs Pimblett fight is expected to be around 11:30 p.m. ET. However, the duration of the undercard will impact the actual start.

UFC moves to Paramount+ ending PPV era

UFC moves on from its PPV model with ESPN and ESPN+. With its seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, the promise is upwards of 40 UFC events a year. It all begins in 2026 with UFC 324 on Jan. 24, which will broadcast on Paramount+.

UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett fight card

Fight card according to ESPN and odds according to BetMGM as of Wednesday.

Main Card:

• Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett,  For interim lightweight title
• Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong; Bantamweight
• Waldo Cortez-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis; Heavyweight
• Natalie Silvia vs. Rose Namajunas Women’s flyweight
• Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva; Featherweight

Prelims:

• Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo; Bantamweight (Odds unavailable)
• Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev; Middleweight
• Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas; Light heavyweight
• Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson; flyweight

Early Prelims:

• Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman; Heavyweight
• Ricky Turcios vs. Cameron Smotheron; Bantamweight (canceled)
• Adam Fugitt vs. Ty Miller; Welterweight

Aaron Rodgers sobbed, according to the Athletic, when Mike Tomlin announced to the team he was stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 12 after another wild-card round exit.

“I’m sorry,” Rodgers said, per the report.

Now those tears could be turning into ones of joy with the Steelers hiring native son Mike McCarthy, his longtime coach with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-2018.

The head coach-quarterback pairing won Super Bowl 45 with the Packers.

After spending the 2025 season with the Steelers and winning the AFC North, Rodgers is a free agent with an uncertain future, to say the least. His decision to sign with the Steelers last June came after months of speculation. The reason, he often told the media, that Pittsburgh was his next late-stage destination was Tomlin.

At the end of his two-year tenure with the New York Jets, which was mired by a torn Achilles in 2023 and soap-opera 2024 campaign that included a fired head coach and too many appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers told a member of the local media he could see himself winding up where McCarthy — who coached the Dallas Cowboys from 2020-2024 — did.

Rodgers’ next decision may include darkness retreats and culturally illicit substances. But McCarthy’s presence in Pittsburgh will be noteworthy, even if the NFL Network separately reported prior to the hiring that the Steelers would be moving on.

Steelers owner Art Rooney II told reporters after the Tomlin split that he had no designs of a rebuild.

Rodgers obviously doesn’t embody his former four-time MVP self most days but it’s pretty evident he can make most of the throws a starting quarterback in the NFL must make to keep his team competitive. His mental understanding of the game is second to none, although his teammates’ inability to match him intellectually often rears its ugly head.

Backup Mason Rudolph is under contract next season and Will Howard will be entering his second NFL season. For Rooney’s vision to become a reality, presenting either as a viable option to winning is dubious.

Perhaps McCarthy, 62, will stick in his hometown long enough that he can develop the next franchise quarterback. Acquiring said player in the coming months, particularly via the draft — the Steelers’ first-round selection (No. 21 overall) — doesn’t seem likely.

They’ll need a stopgap in some shape or form. McCarthy knows Rodgers. Rodgers knows McCarthy. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Alex Honnold has completed his free solo climb up the Taipei 101 building. The 40-year-old climber scaled the 101-floor building in Taipei, Taiwan, in roughly 1 hour, 35 minutes, per Netflix.

After standing at the top of the tower, he was seen embracing the moment and taking a selfie.

He displayed a level of confidence and showmanship throughout the climb, accomplishing a feat that he had thought about for several years.

After a few moments at the very top, Honnold scaled down with a harness and rope to embrace his wife.

The Taipei 101 tower officially opened on Dec. 31, 2004, after being constructed between 1999 and 2004. The building was the world’s tallest from its opening until 2009.

Honnold rose to wide fame in 2017 following his historic free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. The climb, done without safety equipment, was documented in the film ‘Free Solo.’

Alex Honnold reaches top of Taipei 101

Alex Honnold has reached the 101st floor

Honnold’s adventure is almost complete. He just has to scale 200 feet up the spire. The wind has completely picked up.

The final part of the climb included several more harrowing moments.

Alex Honnold prepares for final section

He successfully scaled the 10th and final ‘dragon’ on the Taipei 101 tower. He had another engaging interaction with a group of fans who were at eye level with him through the window. The next challenge will be steeper.

Honnold was heard on the broadcast stating that he was tired before taking the final stretch. He has been climbing for well over an hour.

Sanni Honnold pays Alex a visit

Alex Honnold was on the 60th floor of his climb up the 101-floor building when he had a visit from his wife, Sanni.

Taipei 101 halfway mark

Alex Honnold appears to have reached the halfway point of the building at the 35-minute mark. He continues to express no fear as he looks down from the building. He used the moment to wave at the crowd, talk with the broadcast team and clean off his shoes to prevent potential slipping.

‘The view is amazing,’ Honnold said, looking down during his break. ‘… Everywhere I look, people are watching.’

WWE superstar Seth Rollins is a member of the Netflix broadcast team.

Alex Honnold conquers a dragon

Honnold conquers the first of 10 ‘dragons’ on the Taipei 101 building.

The ‘dragon’ is a stylized ornament that symbolizes a dragonhead sculpture located on the corners of a particular section of the building.

Alex Honnold stops to take in the view

Honnold has proven not to be afraid to look down below. He stopped and turned around to take a quick break, but also used the moment to take in the scene around him. He does have a live mic on during the climb. As he continued the climb, he could be heard reacting in a joking manner to people who were watching him from out of the window and offered someone a high-five through the window.

Alex Honnold’s climb is underway

Honnold has started his climb up a 1,667-foot building in Taiwan. Just two minutes into the free solo climb, he stopped to reach for more chalk from his bag and waved to the crowd watching below.

How to watch Skyscraper Live with Alex Honnold on Netflix

Here’s all the information you need to know to tune into Honnold’s Skyscraper Live event on Netflix.

• Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
• Date: Saturday, Jan. 24
• Stream: Netflix

It is best recommended to start the live viewing on time as it will be broadcasted globally, Netflix said. It’s the best way to ensure viewers experience the full climb.

How tall is Taipei 101?

Taipei 101 is a 101-story, 1,667-foot-tall tower located in the Xinyi District of Taipei, Taiwan. Upon its opening in 2004, the Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world until it was surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2009.

The Taipei building is based on the Chinese number eight, which is considered to be lucky, and is the largest engineering project ever in the history of the Taiwan construction business, according to the Taiwan Tourism Administration. The skyscraper is designed to resemble a bamboo stalk, featuring eight distinct segments symbolizing prosperity.