In this episode of the CPI Stem Cells Podcast, Co-Founder Scotty Nelson sits down with one of his oldest friends: Todd Margolis, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and owner of Potomac MMA.
Their friendship goes back nearly 30 years, through the early days of jiu-jitsu in the U.S., legendary training trips to Brazil, and the rise of MMA. Today, they connect in a very different setting: CPI Stem Cells In Tijuana, where Todd is on his third visit for regenerative treatment.
This conversation is part origin story, part case study, and part blueprint for staying on the mats, on the job, and present with your family as you age.
From Six Fighters to a Full Hospital
Todd has seen CPI’s evolution up close.
- First visit – A small group of six to eight fighters, an older hospital structure, and a team still physically reinforcing the building around therapies (including visible structural work by the hyperbaric chamber).
- Second visit – A move into a new facility, then back into the main hospital as CPI renovated, reinforced, and rebuilt.
- Third visit (now) – A completely transformed hospital, multiple floors in use, and more than 40+ patients in a single week, including many returning for follow-up.
“It doesn’t even look like the same building. It’s packed now—multiple floors, full staff, great nurses, people from all over the world. It’s amazing to see how much CPI Stem Cells In Tijuana has grown.”
Scotty explains some of that evolution, including the challenge of rebuilding after Hurricane Hilary flooded three floors and forced a full renovation and structural reinforcement. The result today is a modern, specialized facility built around regenerative medicine, supported by a multinational team of physicians, nurses, and scientists.
Why Todd Came to CPI Stem Cells In Tijuana in the First Place
As a lifelong grappler, coach, and competitor, Todd’s body has taken the kind of punishment that comes with decades on the mats:
- Chronic low back problems and disc damage
- Radicular symptoms, including tingling in his left leg
- Shoulder injuries, including recent partial tears and inflammation
- Accumulated strain from grappling, wrestling camps, lifting, and day-to-day coaching
By the time he came to CPI the first time, he was dealing with chronic pain and flare-ups that interfered with:
- Coaching at Potomac MMA
- Running intensive wrestling camps
- Training with his students
- Being active with his young children
His goal wasn’t just to “feel better.” It was to keep doing what he loves—teaching, training, competing occasionally—and to be physically capable of coaching and playing with his kids for years to come.
Three Trips, One Back, and a Shoulder
Across his three visits to CPI Stem Cells In Tijuana, Todd’s journey has looked like this:
Trip 1
- Initial evaluation and imaging
- Disc injections and facet joint treatments for his lumbar spine
- Introduction to CPI’s protocol, IV therapies, and group environment
Trip 2
- Return about a year later
- Follow-up on previous disc levels
- Additional disc work and joint support
- Early experience with IV stem cells and supportive therapies (e.g., NAD+)
Trip 3 (Current)
- Updated MRIs comparing three years ago, two years ago, and today
- Imaging shows his discs look good, so no need to “go back in”
- Plan this time:
- Intra-articular joint injections for inflammation and longevity
- Treating his recent shoulder tears and inflammation
- Increasing IV stem cell dosing and supportive therapies (including NAD+)
- Focus on getting ahead of problems, not waiting for severe pain
“This trip is less about crisis and more about staying ahead. My back has been doing pretty well—I just want to make sure I can keep wrestling, coaching, and staying on the mats without breaking down.”
What Todd Can Do Now That He Couldn’t Before
Despite admitting he hasn’t always followed post-treatment activity restrictions perfectly (“I jump back on the mat sooner than I’m supposed to”), Todd’s day-to-day reality is dramatically different than before CPI:
- He recently completed a week-long intensive wrestling camp with tough young athletes and felt only a minor twinge with 18 minutes left in the final session.
- His back “going out” is rarer and generally linked to obvious overuse (like lifting heavy rocks cold or days of shoveling snow without warm-up).
- He notes better overall breathing and less asthma dependence, needing his inhaler far less frequently than before.
- With higher-dose NAD+ IV on this trip, he’s already noticed changes in his anxiety and heart rhythm (less skipped beats, more stable overall).
He’s realistic about what’s changed:
“I’m 49, not 25. My body’s different. But I’m feeling better today before this next procedure than I did on my last trip—and that’s after more years of training, coaching, and life.”
Why He Keeps Coming Back: Longevity, Fatherhood, and Standards
Todd’s motivation isn’t just performance—it’s longevity and fatherhood.
He has three young sons, all starting to train and wrestle:
- A 3-year-old (turning 4)
- A 6-year-old “machine”
- A 9-year-old who’s about to begin more serious wrestling intensity
“I started late with kids. I want to be able to coach my boys on the mat, to have them know Dad can still get down, and to pass on what I know—not just watch from the bleachers.”
He talks about following the example of masters like Megaton and the Helio Gracie mindset: staying active, capable, and relevant on the mats well into his 60s and beyond.
CPI Stem Cells In Tijuana has become part of that strategy—a way to:
- Preserve and restore joint function
- Reduce pain and inflammation
- Keep training, teaching, and playing with his kids
- Support broader health (breathing, energy, recovery, and mental clarity)
The CPI Experience: More Than Just Procedures
Throughout the episode, both Scotty and Todd highlight what makes the CPI Stem Cells In Tijuana experience different from a typical medical visit:
- Multidisciplinary team – Physicians, PhDs, nurses, and staff from Mexico, Europe, Asia, and beyond, all aligned around regenerative medicine.
- Group environment – Shared van rides, daily treatments, and conversations with returning and first-time patients.
- Weekly group dinners – Where patients, athletes, influencers, and retirees sit at the same table, share stories, and build community.
- Patient mix – A blend of high-level athletes (UFC fighters, NFL veterans, stunt performers, wakeboarders) and “regular” patients: parents, retirees, cancer survivors, and people who simply want to move and live without pain.
As Todd puts it, each trip is as much about the people and energy as it is about the therapies:
“Every time I’m here, I meet incredible people—athletes, business owners, cancer survivors, everyday moms and dads. The group dinners, the talks, the education… it all matters. It’s not just procedures; it’s the whole environment.”
Where CPI Is Going Next
Scotty also shares some of the forward-looking work happening at CPI:
- Extensive data collection on thousands of patients: original visits, 3-month, 6-month, and now 12-month follow-ups.
- Building one of the most robust clinical outcome datasets in private stem cell medicine.
- Expansion into genetic testing and custom peptide programs, including:
- Nutrigenomics (how diet and supplements interact with DNA)
- Pharmacogenomics (how medications interact with genetics)
- Peptide protocols developed and manufactured through a new lab in Nashville
- A long-term plan to have infrastructure and data ready as stem cell regulations evolve in the United States.
The goal: to be scientifically and operationally ready wherever the law allows, backed by real-world outcomes—not theory.
Thinking About Stem Cells for Yourself?
Whether you’re:
- An athlete trying to extend your career
- A coach or parent trying to stay active for your kids and grandkids
- Someone living with chronic back, neck, or joint pain
- Or simply looking for options beyond surgery and long-term medication—
Todd’s story is a reminder that there may be more paths than you’ve been offered.
👉 Are you or a loved one looking to learn more about how stem cells can help?
You can explore treatment options, hear more patient stories, and request a consultation with the team at CPI Stem Cells In Tijuana.
Click HERE To Get Started