Joey Chestnut Reclaims Mustard Yellow Belt At Annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut, the biggest name in competitive eating, reclaimed his title as the winner of Nathan’s International Hot Dog-Eating Contest that took place at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, on  Monday.

Joey Chestnut Wins

Chestnut, 32, broke his own hot-dog eating record to regain the Mustard Yellow International Belt, swallowing a whopping total of 70 hot dogs and buns at the Fourth of July contest. He soundly defeated his closest competitor, Matt “The Megatoad” Stonie. Stonie, who had upset Chestnut last year, lost by 17 hot dogs, downing only 53. In third place, the next closest competitor to the stand-out eaters only consumed 41 hot dogs.

After winning the title, Chestnut said that losing to Stonie last year had “woke up the sleeping giant.” He added, “Last year was rough. This year was the best ever.”

Stoney graciously accepted his defeat, commending Chestnut’s record-breaking effort and saying that there were “no excuses” for his loss.

On the women’s side of the eating competition, Miki Sudo of Los Vegas won for the third straight year, once against defeating Sonya “Black Widow” Thomas – a winner in previous years.