Participants geared up for the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at a weigh-in ceremony Friday.

Joey Chestnut is a 12-time champion and weighed in at 220 pounds. Miki Sudo is a six-time champion and weighed in at 132 pounds.

They both say they hope to take home another championship title.

"I'm hoping to have fun, get my body to work for me and if I can do those things I should be close to a record. I should be able to do really well," says Chestnut.

Sudo's all-time best is 41 hotdogs, while Chestnut holds the world record of eating 74 hotdogs in 10 minutes.

Chestnut says he prepared by fasting all of Friday.

“I'm going to wake up empty and loose, and I'll be ready to go," he says.

The contest usually draws in thousands of people to Coney Island every year, however the event will be different this year due to the pandemic. Instead, the contest will be held indoors and without a crowd to allow in order for coronavirus safety measures to be put in place.

The champions say they are happy that this year's event is going on despite the pandemic.

"I'm really happy that we were able to keep some tradition alive," says Chestnut.

“I'd prefer to eat in 95-degree weather than 75-degree air conditioning, but we'll see. I'm just going to do my best," says Sudo. 

The contest is one of the first major sporting events being held amid the pandemic. It will air on ESPN Saturday at 12 p.m.