Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith has been arrested in Nebraska and is facing multiple felony charges after being taken into custody on Monday evening.
The arrest was first reported by TMZ Sports and later confirmed through court records.
The 38-year-old was booked into the Sarpy County Jail at approximately 8:44 p.m. local time. Court records show Smith has been charged with terroristic threats, first-degree false imprisonment, and domestic violence causing serious bodily injury.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding the alleged incident, and no information about the alleged victim has been made public.
According to Nebraska law, the domestic violence charge is a Class IIA felony that carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years upon conviction. The terroristic threats and false imprisonment charges are Class IIIA felonies, each punishable by up to three years in prison, post-release supervision, and potential fines. As of publication, Smith remained in custody, with no bond or initial court appearance announced.
The arrest comes just months after Smith ended his brief retirement from MMA to compete at Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA event, where he submitted Chase Sherman in April. Before that, “Lionheart” retired from UFC competition following a knockout loss to Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City in 2025.
In addition to his fighting career, Smith has become a familiar face on UFC broadcasts, regularly serving as a desk analyst. The charges are allegations, and Smith has not been convicted of any offense.
