How Stem Cells Are Rebuilding Broken UFC Fighters | Scotty Nelson

Erik Apple sits down with combat sports pioneer Scotty Nelson to discuss his massive transition from the apparel industry to cutting-edge medicine. Scotty looks back at the golden era of On The Mat (OTM), running brick-and-mortar stores, launching one of the first martial arts websites in 1995, and navigating the wild days of the Gracie Challenge era.

He also pulls back the curtain on how retail changed when major MMA brands shifted strategies and the UFC updated its sponsorship rules. Now a partner at the Cellular Performance Institute (CPI), Scotty shares the incredible story of how a trip to Tijuana to help a friend's ailing mother sparked a revolution in athlete healthcare. Scotty breaks down the science behind hypoxic stem cells, details why they are uniquely effective at treating severe disc and shoulder injuries, and exposes the realities of the domestic stem cell industry. Plus, he discusses CPI's expanding relationship with the UFC, their ongoing data collection for US approvals, and their advanced work in cellular cancer treatments and custom peptides.

Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome Scotty Nelson of CPI.

1:16 – Building the OTM empire and pioneering early martial arts media in 1995.

3:17 – The Gracie Challenge era and training Vale Tudo in Brazil.

6:12 – How Tapout, discounting, and shifting UFC rules altered the MMA brand landscape.

9:03 – The pivot to medicine: Driving to Tijuana and the origin of CPI.

11:36 – US treatments vs. international technology: The reality of stem cell claims.

15:05 – Repairing combat athletes: Why spinal discs and shoulders are the top treated areas.

16:39 – CPI's relationship with the UFC and seeing the brand on the canvas.

19:34 – Advanced longevity: Clinical data collection, cancer therapies, and custom peptides.