Register by April 30th to take advantage of the Early Registration Discounts!

Register Today! Conference Agenda and Special Events Below!

The Hotel Reservation Deadline is May 4th, 2026.
View the hotel information below or on the 2026 Hotel and Conference Venue Page.

New for 2026 – Pre-Conference Workshops!
Thursday May 28, 2026

Choose one or both for an additional fee.

Down Fighter Life Support (8 am – noon) – $75

Bare Knuckle Medicine (3 hours – afternoon) – $75

***Please note: Pre-Conference Workshops are not included in the main conference registration and require a separate registration fee during the registration process.***

2026 ARP Sponsors

 

A special thank you to our 2026 Association of Ringside Physicians Annual Conference sponsors, PolarCap and CLn, for your generous support and commitment to advancing ringside medicine and athlete safety. Your partnership helps make this conference possible, and we truly appreciate your support.

This year’s keynote speaker and special guest, “Big John” McCarthy

John Michael “Big John” McCarthy is a legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) referee, best known for officiating in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) from UFC 2 onward. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential referees in MMA history, helping shape the sport by co-creating the Unified Rules of MMA and drafting the original UFC rule book. Over his career, McCarthy became famous for his authoritative presence in the cage and his iconic catchphrase, “Let’s get it on.” He also contributes to MMA as a commentator and rules analyst, continuing to guide the sport he helped professionalize.

Grappling Session

Bring your gi and grappling gear! Join us for some mat time at Checkmat Orlando on

Saturday May 30th from 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM.

Address: 403 S Kirkman Rd Ste. C, Orlando, FL 32811
**Checkmat Orlando is located about 10 miles from Hilton Orlando**

Join us at the Hilton Orlando Hotel for the Association of Ringside Physicians 2026 Annual Conference

✨ Special ARP Rate: $219 + tax

🕒 Check-in: 3:00 pm | Check-out: 11:00 am

📍 6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819

👉 Book in the ARP room block by clicking on the button below

📞 Or call the Reservation Center at 407-313-4300

Group Name: 2026 Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP Annual Conference)

General hotel info Click HERE

Hotel accommodations through June 1 are available in limited quantities. Please note that availability is subject to change based on the hotel’s inventory. Conference attendees may use the provided booking link at any time up until their arrival date.

Conference Agenda  – All agenda times are in EST

Thursday May 28
Location : Lake Eola Ballroom

(Separate Registration from the main conference)

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Downed Fighter Life Support
Lou Durkin, Ed Amores, Warren Wang, Big John McCarthy

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Break

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Bare Knuckle Medicine
 Don Muzzi

4:00 PM: Adjourn

Friday, May 29
Location : Lake Eola Ballroom

1:00 PM: Nasal Anti-CD3 for TBI
Saef Izzy

1:30 PM: Weigh-in Changes in Brazil
Martin Maccio

2:30 PM: Life After the Cage
Lucius Pomerantz

3:00 PM: Break

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM: Case Session

3:15 PM -2nd Degree Heart Block
Niko Portillo

3:35 PM – Moyamoya Disease
Ivan Vegar

4:15 PM – Pectus Excavatum
 Joshua Guardia

4:45 PM – G6PD Deficiency
Alex Skylar

5:00 PM: Panel Discussion

5:45 PM: Adjourn

Saturday, May 30
Location : Lake Eola Ballroom

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Didactic Sessions

8:00 AM – New Concepts in Nutrition in Combat Sports
Reza Jazayeri

8:30 AM – The Eye, the Brain and Combat Sports
Mike Lenihan

9:00 AM – BKF Updates
Don Muzzi

9:30 AM – In Fight Bleeding: Position Statement Update
Davide Bianchi

10:00 AM – Break

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM: Research Sessions

10:15 AM – Ringside Ultrasound
Tae Kim & Eric Twohey

10;30 AM – Dental Injuries
Ryan Jin

10:45 AM – SLAP Fighting
Raj Lavadi

11:10 AM – Dehydration Concerns in Young Athletes
Martin Maccio

11:45 AM: Panel Discussion

12:45 PM: Business Meeting

7:00 PM: Banquet & Keynote
Location: Lake Mizell Ballroom

*Must purchase ticket to attend banquet*

Sunday, May 31
Location : Lake Eola Ballroom

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Didactic Sessions

8:00 AM – High Level Anti-Doping in Combat Sports
George Piro

8:30 AM – Concussion in the Female Athlete Morgan Heinzelmann-Weisbaum

9:00 AM – 2 vs 3 Minute Rounds
Amelia Moore

9:30 AM – Weight Cuts and Eating Disorders Danny O’Connor

10:00 AM – Presentation by Polar Cap

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM: Case Sessions

10:30 AM – Chess Boxing
Matt Thomas

10:45 AM – Prebout Vomiting
Francisco Cerda

11:00 AM – Ventricular nodular lesion

Cameron Smotherman

11:15 AM – Break

11:30 AM- Panel Discussion

1:00 PM- Conference Adjourn

1:15 PM Certification Exam Review Session

2:15 PM-4:15 PM Certification Exam
Location: Lake Virginia Ballroom

Special Events 

Friday, May 29


ARP Fellowship Evening

*More details to come soon!*




Saturday, May 30


2:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Grappling Session

Location: Checkmat Orlando
403 S Kirkman Rd Ste. C,
Orlando, FL 32811

**Checkmat Orlando is located about 10 miles from Hilton Orlando**

Conference Floor Plan