Joey Chestnut seized the spotlight on Labor Day, dominating his long-anticipated hot dog-eating showdown with Takeru Kobayashi. The matchup, billed as one of the most significant in the history of competitive eating, lived up to its hype as the two legends squared off in a battle years in the making. Chestnut, the 16-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, led from the start and never looked back, solidifying his status as the undisputed king of competitive eating.
Chestnut not only secured victory but also set a new world record by consuming an astonishing 83 hot dogs, eclipsing his previous records and further cementing his legacy. Kobayashi, despite putting up a valiant effort, finished with 66 hot dogs, setting a personal best in the process. Though he was outpaced by Chestnut, Kobayashi’s performance was a testament to his enduring skill and competitive spirit.
The event, titled “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” was broadcast on Netflix after months of intense promotion. The showdown marked a poignant moment in the world of competitive eating, as Kobayashi had announced prior to the event that this would be his final competition before retiring. For many fans, this was the last chance to see the two greatest eaters of all time go head-to-head.
Unlike the traditional Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest held annually on July 4, this event had a unique twist. While the competitors still had 10 minutes to devour as many hot dogs and buns as possible, they were not allowed to dunk the buns in water—a common technique used to soften the bread and speed up the eating process. Instead, Chestnut and Kobayashi had to eat the hot dogs with the buns as they were, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the contest.
This face-off was the first time the two had competed against each other in a hot dog-eating contest since 2009, when Chestnut secured his third consecutive Nathan’s victory by consuming 68 hot dogs, narrowly beating Kobayashi, who managed 64.5. That contest was the last time Kobayashi participated in the Nathan’s event, leading to a 15-year gap between their epic matchups.
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Kobayashi’s legacy in competitive eating is undeniable. He won the Nathan’s contest six times consecutively from 2001 to 2006, earning a reputation as the world’s greatest eater. However, in 2007, Chestnut emerged as a formidable challenger, defeating Kobayashi and beginning his reign as the dominant force in the sport. Their rivalry reached a climax in 2008 when the two tied at 59 hot dogs in regulation, leading to a dramatic “eat-off” that Chestnut won by devouring five hot dogs in just 50 seconds. The 2009 contest marked their final Nathan’s showdown, with Chestnut once again emerging victorious.
In a twist of fate, Chestnut now finds himself in a similar position to Kobayashi, at odds with Major League Eating (MLE), the organization that oversees the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. This year, Chestnut did not compete in the event for the first time since 2004, having signed a contract with Impossible Foods that prevented him from participating.
In his absence, Patrick Bertoletti claimed victory, consuming 58 hot dogs to win the contest.
The “Unfinished Beef” event on Netflix provided a fitting chapter in the storied rivalry between Chestnut and Kobayashi. It was a final opportunity for fans to witness the two legends compete, and for Chestnut, it was another chance to solidify his place as the greatest competitive eater of all time.
