Former UFC fighter Anthony Smith was arrested on July 27 on three felony charges stemming from a domestic incident involving his wife in Gretna, Nebraska. The 38-year-old faces charges including attempted first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats, and first-degree false imprisonment.
According to court documents, the altercation began on July 26 when Smith’s wife, Mikhala Renee Newman, did not want to leave a bar with him. He is accused of grabbing and pushing her into a vehicle. During the drive, Newman was allegedly able to exit the car, at which point Smith continued to make threats and demanded she get back in.
Upon arriving home, Newman again exited the vehicle. Investigators allege that Smith then attempted multiple times to use his vehicle to strike her. Newman avoided physical harm by moving out of the way, the documents state.
Reports also indicate that purported witnesses heard gunshots from the residence and that Smith threatened to harm himself if law enforcement entered the premises.
Smith, who previously worked as a UFC analyst for ESPN and is now employed by Paramount, has not publicly addressed the incident. He was released on $500,000 bond. The felony charges carry potential penalties of up to 26 years in prison. Mikhala Smith was also involved in a separate incident on June 22 when UFC fighter Dustin Poirier was arrested under the influence at an airport and threatened a security guard.