No one managed to shove 6 pounds of burger down their throat Thursday night at the Phat Phat Phat Burger Eat Off, but one man got terribly close.

Pedro Cordova said he felt like he ate 4.5 pounds in 30 minutes of intense eating.

He competed against 10 others, some with eating-contest experience. But after many pained bites he arose victorious.

But according to the rules, only the one who finished his burger first would win a trip to Mexico. The judge relented.

Lisa Gibson granted Cordova a trip, to the roaring approval of the crowd.

The victor said he felt “stuffed,” and he didn’t plan on eating another burger soon unless it was a Big Mac.

Kurtis Martinez said he was sure Cordova would win the contest before it even started.

“This guy is like a horse,” he said, recalling a time when Cordova ate 10 pounds of Philly cheese steak in 30 minutes.

At the end of the night, Gibson passed around take-out boxes for the losers.

“We’re bringing you guys to-go boxes so you can feed your family for the next week,” she said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com