In a spectacular showdown streamed on Netflix, Joey Chestnut outperformed Takeru Kobayashi by consuming an astonishing 83 hot dogs and buns, setting a new record.

This new achievement surpassed his previous record of 76 hot dogs, earning him a prize of $100,000.

Kobayashi, on the other hand, managed to eat 66 hot dogs in the same 10-minute competition.

“I’ve been aiming for 80 hot dogs for years, and it was only with Kobayashi that I could achieve it,’’ Chestnut shared. “He motivates me. We’ve had our differences, but I genuinely appreciate how we challenge each other to excel.”

This contest marked the first time in 15 years that these competitive eating titans faced off over hot dogs.

“I believe I put forth my best effort,’’ Kobayashi commented through an interpreter.

Chestnut, the American champion, and Kobayashi, the legendary Japanese competitor, previously faced each other five times during the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest held on Independence Day.

Between 2005 and 2009, Chestnut won three of those matches. However, Kobayashi withdrew from Nathan’s in 2010, citing a contract dispute with Major League Eating, which oversees the contest.

The recent Netflix competition introduced new rules: participants were prohibited from dunking buns in water, pouring water on the buns, or separating hot dogs from the buns.

Chestnut, aged 40, entered with a world record of 76 hot dogs. Meanwhile, Kobayashi, now 46, set his personal best at 64½ in 2009.

Though Kobayashi had announced his retirement in May, the opportunity to battle Chestnut brought him back for what he claimed would be his last competition.

Stay tuned for real-time updates, highlights, and additional details from the Joey Chestnut-Takeru Kobayashi contest.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: official results

Chestnut defeats Kobayashi, 83-66.

One hot dog was subtracted from Kobayashi’s total due to leftover, uneaten food.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: final minute unofficial results

Chestnut: 83

Kobayashi: 67

Analysis: It’s an unprecedented victory for Chestnut! He surpasses his previous record by seven hot dogs. Kobayashi also exceeds his personal best of 64½, but it’s not enough to catch up with Chestnut.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: nine minutes completed

Chestnut: 77

Kobayashi: 63

Analysis: Chestnut sets a new record with 77 hot dogs consumed with 1:10 still on the clock!

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: eight minutes completed

Chestnut: 72

Kobayashi: 60

Analysis: Chestnut is just five hot dogs shy of breaking his earlier record of 76.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: seven minutes completed

Chestnut: 66

Kobayashi: 55

Analysis: Chestnut is now eyeing his own record.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: six minutes completed

Chestnut: 59

Kobayashi: 50

Analysis: As predicted, Chestnut looks as formidable as ever, with fans chanting “Joey, Joey!”

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: five minutes completed

Chestnut: 51

Kobayashi: 45

Analysis: Chestnut is gaining a significant lead.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: four minutes completed

Chestnut: 44

Kobayashi: 38

Analysis: Chestnut is outpacing his previous record, as stated during the Netflix livestream.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: three minutes completed

Chestnut: 35

Kobayashi: 31.

Analysis: Japanese supporters are visibly distressed.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: two minutes completed

Chestnut: 25

Kobayashi: 22

Analysis: Chestnut is consuming hot dogs at an impressive rate, while Kobayashi remains close behind.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: one minute completed

Chestnut: 14

Kobayashi: 11

Analysis: Chestnut sets a new record for hot dogs eaten in a minute. Kobayashi is noticeably drenched in water.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi VIP attendees

Pat Bertoletti, the 2024 Nathan’s champion, is among Chestnut’s guests.

Kobayashi has invited Tomoko Miyake and Russian Sato, fellow competitive eaters from Japan.

The main event is about to start

Chestnut and Kobayashi are ready to take the stage. The competition will begin shortly.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi venue

The contest has moved indoors from the pool area at the Luxor.

With this shift, the contestants won’t have to deal with the intense sun as the competition is set to start in about five minutes.

Joey Chestnut’s Hot Dog Record

Due to restrictions at Nathan’s, Chestnut showcased his skills on Independence Day at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas. He consumed 57 hot dogs in just five minutes, which is only one less than Pat Bertoletti’s winning total of 58 at Nathan’s competition. This equates to an impressive rate of 11.4 hot dogs per minute for Chestnut.

Joey Chestnut and Kobayashi: Eating Stats

Throughout his 19 appearances at Nathan’s, Chestnut has devoured 1,214 hot dogs, averaging just over six hot dogs per minute. (In his first four competitions, each lasted 12 minutes. The duration has been 10 minutes since 2008.)

During his nine contests at Nathan’s, Kobayashi consumed 487.75 hot dogs, averaging nearly five per minute. (The initial seven contests he participated in were each 12 minutes long.)

Joey Chestnut’s World Record

Chestnut established a previous record of 76 hot dogs eaten at Nathan’s in 2021, before setting a new record on Monday by eating 83 hot dogs, surpassing Kobayashi.

Kobayashi’s Hot Dog Record

Kobayashi achieved his personal best at Nathan’s in 2009 with a total of 64½ hot dogs, which is the second highest number ever recorded at Nathan’s, just behind Chestnut’s 76. Since 2009, Kobayashi has not participated in the event.

World Record Broken in Watermelon Eating

Meanwhile, Leah Shutkever, a competitive eater from the UK, made headlines at the Luxor by breaking the watermelon eating record for three minutes, a record officially recognized by Guinness World Records.

Shutkever demolished over 2,000 grams of watermelon, which is roughly 4.4 pounds, surpassing the old record of 1,750 grams.

An official from Guinness World Records was present to verify this achievement.

Joey Chestnut and Kobayashi’s Undercard Event

Former Nathan’s champion Matt Stonie went up against Olympic medalists Ryan Lochte, Ryan Murphy, and Max Irving in a unique contest.

They tackled chicken wings, and the Olympic swimmers appeared to struggle.

Stonie, reminiscent of Michael Phelps, consumed 53 wings while the swimmers managed just 26.

Their eating techniques varied significantly; the swimmers focused on chewing off the meat, whereas Stonie quickly stripped the bones clean and swallowed the meat whole.

Titles Held: Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

Joey Chestnut has an impressive record of 16 wins at Nathan’s across 19 competitions (2005-2023).

In contrast, Kobayashi secured six titles in his eight competitions (2001-2009).

Not All-Powerful: Joey Chestnut

While Chestnut is typically favored by bookmakers and has overwhelmingly won an online poll conducted by Netflix, it’s important to note that he has faced defeats. In 2015, he was bested by Matt Stonie, who also participated in the recent undercard.

“Joey’s a great eater but he’s not unbeatable,” Stonie remarked. “And I showed up hungry that day.”

Record for Hot Dogs Eaten by Chestnut

83 hot dogs, achieved at “Unfinished Beef” in Las Vegas in 2024.

Record for Hot Dogs Eaten by Kobayashi

64½ hot dogs, accomplished at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2009.

Training Regimens: Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

Chestnut has been practicing at his home in Westfield, Indiana, feeling confident about potentially breaking his record of 76 hot dogs.

Kobayashi, meanwhile, has been training in Los Angeles since leaving Japan on July 15, staying tight-lipped about his hot dog consumption during training. He mentioned using Pokemon Sleep to track his sleep patterns and has found a device that indicates the optimal temperature for drinking water.

Officiating the Match: Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

During the weigh-in, both competitors reviewed the rules, which include prohibitions against soaking buns in water and removing hot dogs from their buns.

“We went over the rules, the referee’s criteria, penalties, and how to prepare water and hot dogs,” Kobayashi posted on X. “This is a highly professional team. Overall, this is the most rigorous preparation I’ve faced in my competitive career.”

When is the Chestnut vs. Kobayashi Contest?

The competition kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, September 2.

How to Watch the Event

Viewers can stream the contest on Netflix.

Where will the Contest take Place?

The contest is set to be held at the HyperX Arena Las Vegas inside the Luxor Hotel & Casino.

Friendly Rivalry: Trash Talk between Chestnut and Kobayashi

Netflix opened up the livestream with lively, pre-recorded comments from both competitors.

“He was an amazing champion, until he started losing. He could tolerate being next to me. That’s not champion behavior.” – Chestnut

“He used to be my main competitor. But I think I kind of retired him.” – Chestnut

“I want to defeat him for sure.” – Kobayashi

Prize Money for the Contest

The victor of the matchup will receive $100,000, as announced via the Netflix livestream.

How Many Hot Dogs Will Be Prepared?

A total of 300 hot dogs will be cooked for the competition, per the Netflix livestream.

Online Poll Results for Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

Netflix conducted an online poll asking fans who they would support in the competition on X, which closed at 3 p.m. ET.

After tallying 3,030 votes:

Chestnut: 79.7%

Kobayashi: 20.3%

Kobayashi’s Arrival

The renowned eater from Japan arrived in a black tracksuit and cap, ready for the contest.

Joey Chestnut’s Arrival

Joey Chestnut, the world champion eater, shows up wearing a T-shirt that says “Unfinished Beef” and dressed in shorts.

Betting Odds for Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

• FanDuel: Chestnut -700, Kobayashi +400
• BetOnline: Chestnut -1000, Kobayashi +550
• BetUS: Chestnut -1000, Kobayashi 550

What’s under Kobayashi’s hat?

He’s sporting a buzz cut. Kobayashi has cut off his once braided hair.

Undercard Events for Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

Before the main event, undercard competitions will happen.

Matt Stonie, who defeated Joey Chestnut at Nathan’s in 2015—making him the last person to do so there—will take on three Olympic swimmers.

The swimmers are Ryan Lochte, a 12-time medalist with six golds; Ryan Murphy, a five-time gold medalist; and Max Irving, who captured a bronze at the Paris Olympics.

They will be competing in a chicken wing-eating contest.

Leah Shutkever, a competitive eater, will try to set a world record for the most watermelon eaten in three minutes.

Rules for Chestnut vs. Kobayashi Contest

Hot dog buns cannot be dunked in water, a rule proposed by Kobayashi, who believes this can lead to unfair advantages. It’s also against the rules to separate the hot dog from the bun, a crucial action for dunking. However, drinking water will still be allowed.

There hasn’t been any announcement from Netflix regarding punishments for breaking the rules.

Type of Hot Dogs for the Contest

They will be using Ballpark beef hot dogs.

Predictions for Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

According to Pat Bertoletti, the 2024 Nathan’s champion: “Kobi’s going to show us why he was the best with a high score, but Joey will demonstrate why he is on top.” Prediction: Chestnut 82, Kobayashi 74.

Bob Shoudt, a Top 5 finisher at Nathan’s, remarked: “I believe Joey will take the lead throughout. It will clearly show that Joey wins without needing to look at any type of evidence.” Prediction: Chestnut 78, Kobayashi 73.

John “Crazy Legs” Conti, a competitive eater, noted: “It will be a rapid contest, requiring two or three bites per hot dog.” He predicts a “bun buzzer beater,” where both Chestnut and Kobayashi exceed 70 hot dogs.

Could this end badly?

This is just a light-hearted jab at Netflix.

Right, Netflix?

Joey Chestnut’s Nickname

Jaws

Kobayashi’s Nickname

The Tsunami

The History Between Joey Chestnut and Kobayashi

Their rivalry began at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competitions that happen every Fourth of July, with their first match in 2005.

Kobayashi was the reigning champion, consuming 49 hot dogs, while Chestnut made his debut eating 32 and placing third.

In 2006, Kobayashi secured his sixth title with 53¾ hot dogs, while Chestnut improved to 52 hot dogs, finishing as runner-up.

Chestnut took home victories in the following three contests, including a dramatic overtime in 2008. After the 2009 match, Kobayashi stopped participating at Nathan’s due to a contractual issue.

Contract Issues Between Chestnut and Kobayashi

Relationships with Major League Eating (MLE), which oversees the Nathan’s contest, have soured for both eaters. After 2009, Kobayashi declined to compete due to a contract dispute. Last year, Chestnut was barred from joining because he signed a marketing agreement with Impossible Foods, which MLE viewed as a direct competitor to Nathan’s.

Overtime in Chestnut vs. Kobayashi Matches

During the 2008 Nathan’s competition, Chestnut and Kobayashi tied at 59 hot dogs each after the regulation 10 minutes. Chestnut won that round by consuming five hot dogs and buns in 50 seconds, finishing seven seconds faster than Kobayashi.

Netflix is ready for similar situations. If they end up in a tie after the initial 10 minutes, a three-minute overtime will ensue, and if still tied, the winner will be the one to finish five hot dogs and buns first.

Allegations of Cheating in Chestnut vs. Kobayashi Competitions

Hot dog buns cannot be dunked in water, a rule that Kobayashi insisted on implementing.

“Dunking the bun causes it to break apart, resulting in a significant loss of bread,” he explained to YSL News Sports. “This rule aims to clarify to spectators how many hot dogs are genuinely eaten while minimizing cheating.”

He clarified that he does not accuse Chestnut of cheating.

Joey Chestnut on Competition Rules

An additional rule, also requested by Kobayashi, prohibits separating the hot dog from its bun.

“It makes me a bit uneasy,” Chestnut told YSL News Sports. “Sometimes the (hot dog) slips out of the bun, and I’m unsure if I should put it back in or grab both at once.”

Commentary for Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

The commentary for this highly anticipated matchup will be provided by Cari Champion and Chris Rose. Hosts for the event will be Rob Riggle and Nikki Garcia.

Tension Between Joey Chestnut and Kobayashi

During the weigh-in on Sunday, Chestnut and Kobayashi shook hands as per the announcer’s request, but it appeared awkward—Chestnut smiled while Kobayashi remained serious.

Chestnut noted last week that Kobayashi wasn’t speaking to him, let alone shaking hands. What’s the reason for this?

Kobayashi pointed out: “I had the chance to reflect on how he treated me during our competitive days, with the derogatory comments he made about me,” in an interview with YSL News Sports last week.

Chestnut replied that he was unaware of any derogatory remarks and stated that their relationship began deteriorating in 2010, admitting, “I could have managed things better. Probably should have.

Last Match: Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

Chestnut and Kobayashi faced off without hot dogs involved. Their final direct competition occurred in 2010 in Singapore, where the crowd was mostly cheering for Kobayashi, and the competitors had bowls of shrimp wontons. Chestnut consumed 380 shrimp wontons, while Kobayashi followed closely with 370.

Chestnut recounted, “He got off to a quick start and had a slight edge. Then I caught up with him, and I could tell the audience was taken aback.  It was an awesome feeling.”

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi Championship Belt

Although the iconic Mustard Belt from Nathan’s is not in play, there will still be a championship belt awarded, which will be presented by WWE stars Rey Mysterio and Omos.

Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi Plate Size

At Nathan’s, hot dogs are usually served five per plate. For the upcoming Netflix contest, however, each plate will contain 10 hot dogs, per Chestnut’s announcement.

Chestnut expressed his approval of this change, indicating it would lessen the frequency of plate exchanges during the competition. “It’s always a hassle  having to maneuver around the people serving the plates,” he explained. “Having plates with 10 is great. It will help me maintain a smoother pace.”

Joey Chestnut’s Exclusion from Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

This year, Chestnut was prevented from participating in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest after entering into a marketing agreement with Impossible Foods. Major League Eating, the organization managing the Nathan’s contest, classified Impossible Foods as a direct competitor since they began offering their version of hot dogs this year. This incident marks the first time in 20 years that Chestnut has missed this event.