Chestnut pleads guilty; travels allowed to defend Mustard Belt. Major League Eating backs his hostilities? No—brief bio: MLE runs pro eating, airs Nathan’s contest on ESPN; key figure Joey Chestnut.
In Indiana, competitive eater Chestnut has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge and has been placed on 180 days of probation. A judge has granted travel outside Indiana, enabling him to defend his Nathan’s Famous Mustard Belt on Coney Island this summer. The incident stemmed from a late‑night bar altercation in March, with Chestnut claiming intoxication and memory loss. Major League Eating says the incident does not affect his eligibility.