Anthony Smith Arrested on Felony Domestic Violence, Terroristic Threats Charges

Anthony Smith, the longtime UFC light heavyweight and one-time title challenger, was arrested Monday evening in Nebraska and is facing three separate felony charges. Court records confirm Smith was booked at 8:44 p.m. and remains in custody at the Sarpy County Jail, with no bond or release information yet made public.

The charges are serious. Smith faces one count of domestic violence causing serious bodily injury, plus terroristic threats and first-degree false imprisonment. Under Nebraska law, the domestic violence count is a Class 2A felony carrying a maximum of 20 years in prison. The other two are Class 3A felonies, each punishable by up to three years behind bars, 18 months of post-release supervision, and a fine of up to $10,000.

As of now, the specifics of what led to the arrest haven't been released. Court records lay out the charges but not the circumstances.

A Long Career, a Recent Detour

Smith leaves behind one of the busiest résumés in the division: a 38-22 record with 20 knockouts and 15 submissions across a career that spanned nearly two decades. He challenged for the light heavyweight title in 2019 and spent years as a fixture in the UFC's top 10 before his form tailed off.

He announced his retirement in 2025 at UFC Kansas City, where he was stopped by elbows in the first round against Zhang Mingyang. That exit didn't stick. Earlier this year Smith un-retired to compete at Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion in April, submitting Chase Sherman. Between fights, he'd carved out a second career as a UFC broadcast analyst, a role that made him one of the more familiar voices in the sport.

The UFC has not commented on Smith's status. Given the severity of the charges and his continued presence on the promotion's broadcast team, that silence is unlikely to last long. We'll update this story as more details from the case become available.