Matt Stonie defeats hot dog champ Joey Chesnut with record 43 slugburgers at Corinth festival

Joey Chestnut, left, and Matt Stonie, right, compete at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Reigning champion Chestnut won his eighth contest by finishing 61 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Joey Chestnut, left, and Matt Stonie, right, compete at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Reigning champion Chestnut won his eighth contest by finishing 61 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Joey Chestnut, left, and Matt Stonie, right, compete at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Reigning champion Chestnut won his eighth contest by finishing 61 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

CORINTH, Mississippi (AP) — Professional gorger Matt Stonie gulped down a record 43 slugburgers Saturday — one better than the nation’s top-ranked food-gobbler Joey Chestnut — to keep his Slugburger Festival title.

The Daily Corinthian reports Stonie has now defeated Chestnut twice at the Corinth, Mississippi, festival and won three events overall.

Stonie set the previous mark for eating slugburgers in 10 minutes by gulping down 31 last year.

“They were less crispy this time,” said Stonie. “I was watching Joey all the time. A world record wouldn’t have meant anything unless I beat him.”

“He found the rhythm quick,” said Chestnut, who downed 42 slugburgers. “The slugburgers are hard to swallow and he got out to a lead that I couldn’t make up. I will be back next year. I have to beat this kid.”

Stonie, ranked second in Major League Eating, got his second win versus Chestnut, the world’s top eater, in the last three months. He previously downed Chestnut at a gyro-eating contest in May.

Juan Rodriguez finished third by eating 23 slugburgers. Nate Biller came home fourth with 13.

Slugburgers, a local delicacy, aren’t made of slugs as the name implies. The secret recipe includes meat and a breading extender, such as soybean meal. The patty is deep fried and garnished with pickle, mustard and onion.