Keith Peterson doesn’t mince words. The veteran UFC referee, known for his “No Nonsense” moniker, has seen thousands of matches across amateur and professional mixed martial arts. But when it comes to identifying the single best athletic pursuit for young people, his answer is unequivocal: wrestling.
“Wrestling’s the best sport that you could do at the high school level, youth level and college level,”
Peterson stated during a recent podcast appearance.
His conviction stems from decades of personal experience—not just as a referee but as a wrestler himself who competed throughout his school years before transitioning to amateur MMA competition and eventually officiating at the sport’s highest levels.
Peterson‘s wrestling background provided the foundation for everything that followed in his combat sports career. He competed in amateur MMA for three years, exploring disciplines including Muay Thai and kickboxing before becoming a referee. That grappling base proved essential when he stepped into the cage to officiate, giving him an innate understanding of positioning, leverage and the technical nuances that separate a competitive exchange from a dangerous situation.
But Peterson‘s advocacy for wrestling extends beyond personal nostalgia. He’s now passing that passion to the next generation, coaching alongside his 19-year-old daughter Mora, who competed at the NCAA Women’s Nationals last year. Together they run Empire Girls Wrestling, a club dedicated to growing the sport among young women. Peterson also serves as assistant coach for the Bayshore girls wrestling team, witnessing firsthand the fast growth of women’s wrestling at the grassroots level.
“The level of competition was wild,”
Peterson recalled of watching the women’s nationals.
“These are not girls; they’re 26-year-old women in college. There are some real tough women out there.”
His daughter may have fallen short in her first year at nationals but the experience of sitting together and watching that elite competition reinforced his belief in the sport’s value.
What makes wrestling superior to other high school sports, according to Peterson, is the life lessons embedded in every practice and match.
“You’re learning life lessons on a wrestling mat instead of having to learn it in the outside world where the cost sometimes is a little more,”
he explained.
The sport teaches defeat in a controlled environment, allowing young athletes to experience setbacks, develop resilience and learn perseverance without the potentially harsher consequences that come from learning those lessons elsewhere.
Wrestling also builds a foundation of self-reliance and discipline that carries into adulthood. Peterson emphasized the dedication required, noting that
“The amount of time that stuff takes”
prepares wrestlers for any challenge life throws at them. The one-on-one nature of the sport means there’s nowhere to hide—no teammates to rely on when things get tough. That pressure forges mental toughness and accountability.
Peterson‘s own children reflect wrestling’s formative influence. His 23-year-old son is deeply involved in the hardcore music scene, his daughter is dedicated to wrestling and coaching, and his 14-year-old continues to compete while also pursuing skateboarding. All three were raised around the sport, and Peterson credits wrestling with teaching them how to
“Be good people without having to try.”
The physical benefits are obvious—wrestling develops strength, conditioning, flexibility and body awareness. But Peterson sees the mental and emotional growth as equally important. In his current role coaching girls wrestling, he witnesses young women gaining confidence, learning to handle adversity and discovering their own strength in ways that extend far beyond the mat.
Peterson has a unique vantage point on what separates good MMA stars from great ones. Time and again, he’s seen that wrestling background make the crucial difference. The sport’s emphasis on positioning, balance and leverage translates directly to MMA success, while the mental fortitude developed through years of difficult weight cuts and demanding practices prepares athletes for the challenges of professional competition.
For Peterson, promoting wrestling isn’t about nostalgia or personal preference. It’s about giving young people—especially girls who historically had fewer opportunities in combat sports—access to a transformative experience.
“It’s great that girls get the opportunity to be in what I believe is the best sport,”
he said, his characteristic straightforwardness shining through.
Whether they go on to compete in MMA like Peterson did, pursue other athletic endeavors or simply carry the lessons learned into their everyday lives, wrestlers gain something irreplaceable. In Keith Peterson‘s view, no other high school sport offers the same complete package of physical development, mental toughness and life preparation. For a man who built a career on making split-second decisions under intense pressure, that assessment carries considerable weight.
