Former UFC fighter Anthony Smith was arrested Monday evening and is being held in Sarpy County Jail in Nebraska on three felony charges. Online jail records indicate the charges are domestic violence causing serious bodily injury, terroristic threats, and false imprisonment.
Smith, who recently turned 38, was booked into the jail at 8:44 p.m. local time on Monday and remained in custody as of Tuesday night. He had not yet seen a judge, and bond had not been set, according to initial reports. A warrant for his arrest was issued on Monday, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning.
The domestic violence charge alone carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years if convicted.
Smith, a veteran of 17 years in mixed martial arts, challenged for the UFC light heavyweight championship in 2019, losing to Jon Jones at UFC 235. He announced his retirement from active competition in 2025 following a knockout loss to Mingyang at UFC Fight Night. He has also competed in Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA and serves as an analyst for pre- and post-fight coverage on Paramount+.