Matt Stonie Conquers Yaamava' Mega Dog Challenge

A 22-inch hot dog versus a professional eater brought the ultimate showdown at The 909.

By Megan Garcia

A rivalry is rooted in the improbable. The odds are stacked against the opponent with the bravery to take down the beast. History books are filled with anecdotes of battles won and lost, and now Matt Stonie vs. the Mega Dog is the latest story to be documented.

Four thousand calories amassed within 22 inches make up the 4K Mega Dog at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. It’s dressed with crispy pork belly, BBQ pulled pork, waffle cut fries, pickled jalapeño, and thinly sliced red onions drizzled with cheddar cheese sauce, jalapeño sauce and white crème sauce.

So, it begs the question, how much time does someone need to finish a four-pound hot dog?

If you’re Stonie, only three minutes and 46 seconds are required to accomplish the feat.

Three people have dared the eating challenge at The 909 prior to the Megatoad vs. the Mega Dog showdown in early August. The lone victor set the record at 10 minutes to consume the Vienna beef sausage, the bun and all its toppings. For Stonie, a competitive and world record eater with more than 10 years of experience, the task at hand was to devour the nearly two-foot hot dog in less than four minutes.

“I’ve eaten plenty of hot dogs in my life, maybe thousands of them,” Stonie said. “But to see a hot dog nearly two feet long – just one massive sausage – it was intimidating. Hearing about [the Mega Dog] descriptively was really intimidating. When you see it in person, it looks big, but it smells delicious.”

A buzz of the showdown made its way throughout Highland. The suspense increased with each passing minute as a crowd formed within the heart of The 909. The sounds of the drums and cheers rattled the walls, but Stonie remained stoic as he walked out to the main stage. Following a few steps behind him was Chef Ruben Bugarin with the Mega Dog in all its glory. At the sound of the whistle, the battle began.

The 31-year-old swiftly grabbed handfuls of the Mega Dog and munched away. Layers of waffle fries and pulled pork disappeared quickly within a minute of the competition. As time ticked away, he tore the sausage in pieces and guzzled it down. The few remaining bites at three minutes and 30 seconds were like the last steps of climbing up Mount Everest. 

"I'm completely impressed, I've never seen anything like it.” said Chris Fava, Yaamava’ Vice President of Food & Beverage. “It was a spectacle. It was a little messy, but just the fact that he was able to get that down, I'm amazed.”

After the final bite, Stonie wiped away the sauce around his chin and held his arm up in victory. The Mega Dog was defeated with 15 seconds to spare to the four-minute mark. A new record was set. A championship belt and a trophy etched with his name awaited him.

“My target time was four minutes,” Stonie said after the challenge. “I talked to the chef earlier today and told him I was nervous. So much was on the line, but now if you beat my time in less than four minutes, you’re going to win a lot.”

It's a battle that two people tried to fight immediately after Stonie defeated the Mega Dog. Although neither competitor became a victor, starting in September, anyone who beats Stonie’s time will walk away with $4,000 Free Play or $2,000 cash and be named a champion.

Mega Dog Record Setting Challenge