Joey Chestnut wins 18th Nathan's Hot Dog title with 66 wieners

Joey Chestnut won his 18th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest title on Saturday, consuming 66 hot dogs and buns during the annual Fourth of July competition at Coney Island.

The 66-wiener performance fell short of Chestnut's personal record of 76 set in a previous year, but extreme conditions played a factor. Per MMA Mania, temperatures reached 100 degrees in New York during the contest, which coincided with America's 250th anniversary celebration.

Chestnut overwhelms field despite missing personal best

Oddsmakers had given Chestnut a 96 percent chance to win the event but only an 8 percent chance to break his own record, according to the report. The gap between Chestnut and his nearest competitor remained wide enough that the outcome was never in doubt.

The victory extends Chestnut's dominance in competitive eating, a reign that has lasted more than a decade and shows no signs of ending. His next title defense is expected at the same location next July.

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• MMA Mania — How many hot dogs did Joey Chestnut eat? Coney Island legend destroys competition to capture 18th Nathan’s title | Video