Welcome back to UAsk502 — the podcast built for the hardworking plumbers, pipefitters, and service techs of Local 502! In this episode, host Ryan Kleber sits down with Damon “The Demon” Bell — professional fighter, gym owner, fight promoter, and 2024 inductee into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Damon is the founder of Triumph Combat, a Louisville-based training gym, and the CEO of Oni Fights Promotions — the local fight organization that Local 502 is proud to sponsor. From bare knuckle fighting to building a business, Damon’s story is one of discipline, grit, and building something from nothing.
“As soon as I hit 18, my dad took me to a county fair. He said, you think you could beat these guys? I said yeah, I think so. I got licensed to fight that night.”
After a win in Louisville, asked what was next: “I said I want to be the first pro in Kentucky to do all the mainstream combat sports. I said it, and then I willed it into existence.” He did, and it put him in the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
“Tradesmen love fights. You show up, you drink, you watch fights, there’s nothing better than that… As a tradesman, especially through an apprenticeship, you’re doing years and years with a teacher to develop the skills to be a master.”
What You’ll Learn:
✅ The path from amateur kickboxer to U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Famer
✅ What bare knuckle fighting actually feels like from the inside ✅ How Triumph Combat was built and what makes it different
✅ What it means to have Local 502 as a corporate sponsor of Oni Fights
✅ The parallel between fighter discipline and tradesperson discipline
✅ Next Oni Fights event: Oni Fights 4 Night of Champions
Connect with Damon & Oni Fights:
🥊 Oni Fights: onifights.com 🥊 Triumph Combat: triumphcombat.com | 1010 Clark’s Lane, Louisville KY | 502-510-6454 📱 Follow: @OniFights | @TriumphCombat
Connect with UAsk502:
🎙️ YouTube & Spotify: UAsk502 🌐 lu502.com/podcasts