Former UFC Title Challenger Anthony Smith Arrested For Allegedly Assaulting His Wife & Making Terroristic Threats

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith was arrested Monday night in Sarpy County, Nebraska, on three felony charges, according to county arrest records.

Smith, who turned 38 the day before his arrest, was booked into the Sarpy County Correctional Center on charges of attempted first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats and first-degree false imprisonment.

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Chief Deputy Sarpy County Attorney John W. Reisz confirmed the charges, noting the domestic assault count alone is a Class II felony punishable by up to 50 years in prison, while the terroristic threats and false imprisonment charges carry lesser but still significant potential sentences, including fines and post-release supervision.

Smith remained in custody as of Wednesday morning, held on a $500,000 bond, with a bond hearing scheduled that morning at the correctional center. Court records show he was ordered to have no contact with his wife. Specifics of the incident that led to the arrest have not been made public, and Smith had not yet appeared before a judge as of the latest reporting.

The arrest is a jarring development for a fighter widely respected across the MMA community both for his in-cage résumé and his post-fighting career as a broadcaster. Nicknamed “Lionheart,” Smith spent 17 years competing professionally and challenged for the UFC light heavyweight championship in 2019, falling to Jon Jones by unanimous decision.

He announced his retirement from active competition following a knockout loss to Zhang Mingyang at a UFC Fight Night card in 2025, though he returned to combat sports this past April, submitting an opponent in the first round of a Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA bout for Jorge Masvidal‘s promotion.

Even in retirement from the UFC roster, Smith remained a visible presence in the sport, working as an analyst on UFC broadcasts — a role he has continued to hold.