A day after being banned from competing in Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest next month for signing with a rival hot dog brand, Joey Chestnut has his next event.
Chestnut, the 16-time champion, will face former nemesis Takeru Kobayashi in “Unfinished Beef” on September 2. The competition will be streamed live on Netflix.
The location has not been determined.
“Throughout my years in competitive eating, Kobayashi stands out as my greatest rival,” Chestnut said in a statement. “Competing against him has made me so much better. I know fans have been waiting a long time for a new chapter of our rivalry and I can’t wait for our huge showdown live on Netflix! It’s time to give the people what they want!”
Chestnut, 40, won last year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by consuming 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. His record stands at 76 in 2021. Chestnut has won eight events in a row.
He was put on the map in 2007 when he upset Kobayashi by eating 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes. Kobayashi entered that event as the six-time defending champion.
“For me, retirement will only happen after I take him out for the last time,” Kobayashi said in a statement on Wednesday. “This rivalry has been brewing for a long time. By competing against Joey live on Netflix, fans around the world can watch me knock him out.”
Kobayashi said in a recent Netflix documentary that he is retiring, citing health concerns. In it he said, “I’m not hungry anymore.”
The decision not to include Chestnut in this year’s Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest caused an immediate uproar.
Major League Eating said Tuesday that Chestnut violated a rule that no participant can promote a competing hot dog brand. Chestnut is sponsored by a plant-based food company.
“For nearly two decades, we have operated under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it appears that Joey and his executives have prioritized a new partnership with another hot dog brand over our long-standing relationship,” Major League Eating said. a statement.
The organization said it and Nathan recently “went to great lengths” to accommodate Chestnut, including allowing him to participate in “a rival off-brand hot dog eating contest on Labor Day,” an apparent reference to the Netflix event.
Netflix has expanded its live sports offerings in recent months. It will stream the Mike Tyson-vs.-Jake Paul boxing match in November, and it recently announced a three-match deal to show the NFL on Christmas Day.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
