Details continue to emerge surrounding the arrest of longtime UFC analyst and one-time UFC title challenger Anthony Smith.
Smith, 38, was arrested Monday in his home state of Nebraska and booked into Sarpy County Jail on three potential felony charges for terroristic threats, first-degree false imprisonment and first-degree domestic assault. On Wednesday, the Sarpy County District Attorney’s Office issued a statement alleging that Smith “was involved in an altercation with his wife at a bar in Gretna, Neb., during which he reportedly threatened to kill her if she did not get into his vehicle and go home with him.”
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The statement further alleged that Smith eventually forced his wife into the vehicle and then “attempted multiple times to use the vehicle to strike her” after she escaped during the drive. Per authorities, Smith’s wife ultimately avoided any physical harm and Smith turned himself into authorities without incident following the issuing of a warrant.
Smith was released from custody Wednesday morning after posting a $500,000 bond. As a condition of his bond, the UFC veteran is barred from making any contact with his wife and is prohibited from leaving Nebraska without a judge’s permission.
Smith is currently due back in court on Aug. 17.
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The combined weight of Smith’s three charges, if convicted, carries a potential sentence of more than 20 years in prison.
Smith (39-22) retired from UFC competition in 2025 following a nine-year, 24-fight run with the company that saw him unsuccessfully challenge Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title in 2019. He doubled as a television analyst on UFC broadcasts for the final several years of his fighting career, and has continued to do so in UFC retirement.
Smith returned to broader combat sports competition in April with a first-round submission of Chase Sherman in a bare-knuckle MMA bout as part of Gamebred FC’s ongoing $500,000 heavyweight tournament.
