Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith is facing serious legal trouble after authorities in Nebraska arrested him on multiple felony charges earlier this week.
According to an initial report from TMZ Sports, later confirmed by MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin through court records, Anthony Smith was taken into custody on Monday evening at approximately 8:44 p.m. He remains detained at the Sarpy County Jail as legal proceedings move forward.
Court records show that Smith has been charged with terroristic threats, first-degree false imprisonment, and attempted first-degree domestic assault, all of which are felony offenses. As of now, officials have not released details regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest, and law enforcement has yet to provide additional information about the allegations.
Under Nebraska law, domestic violence charges involving serious bodily injury can carry significant penalties. The charges filed against Smith could result in severe legal consequences if he is convicted. The terroristic threats and first-degree false imprisonment charges are classified as Class IIIA felonies, which carry potential prison sentences, post-release supervision, and substantial fines.
The arrest marks a stunning development for Anthony Smith, who retired from the UFC following a first-round knockout loss to Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City. After stepping away from the promotion, Smith returned to competition earlier this year under Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA banner, where he submitted former UFC heavyweight Chase Sherman in April.
Smith built a respected career inside the Octagon after making his UFC debut in 2016. He initially competed at middleweight before moving up to the light heavyweight division, where he enjoyed the most successful stretch of his career. Notable victories over former champions Rashad Evans and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, along with a win over Volkan Oezdemir, helped propel him into a UFC light heavyweight title fight against Jon Jones at UFC 235.
Although Smith fell short in his championship bid, he remained a fixture in the division for years and added wins over fighters such as Alexander Gustafsson and Ryan Spann. In addition to his fighting career, he became a familiar face on UFC broadcasts, serving as an analyst and commentator.
The legal issues surrounding Anthony Smith come just weeks after former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier made headlines following his own arrest on a public intoxication charge in Atlanta. Unlike Poirier, who publicly addressed the incident and committed to sobriety, Smith and his representatives have not released a statement regarding the allegations.
A bond hearing for Anthony Smith is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. at the Sarpy County Correctional Center. More details are expected to emerge as the case progresses.
