Anthony Smith was taken into custody at Sarpy County Jail in Nebraska on Monday evening, facing three serious felony charges that could significantly alter the course of his post-career life.
Arrest records from Sarpy County confirm that Smith faces charges of DV causing serious bodily injury, terr*ristic threats, and false imprisonment. He remained in custody as of Tuesday evening, with specific details surrounding the incident not publicly available at the time of reporting.
The timing carries a particular weight: Smith was arrested the evening after his 38th birthday.
Smith had a career of 17 years as a professional mixed martial artist. Competing at 205 lbs (93 kg), he climbed through the ranks of the UFC’s light-heavyweight division, earning a title shot against Jon Jones in March 2019 at UFC 235. That night ended controversially, with Jones landing an illegal knee that momentarily left Smith on the canvas. Had Smith remained down, Jones may have faced disqualification.
Smith ultimately finished his professional career with a record of 37 wins and 22 losses, stepping away from the UFC at UFC Kansas City last year. Since retiring, he transitioned into media, joining the UFC’s broadcast team while also building a YouTube presence where he offered commentary on the sport and its broader conversations.
He also made a brief return to competition earlier this year, stepping into a bare-knuckle MMA bout against Chase Sherman under the Gamebred FC banner and submitting his opponent in the first round.
The felony charges now cast a long shadow over that chapter. DV causing serious bodily injury carries the most serious legal weight among the three counts, and in Nebraska, such charges can bring substantial prison sentences depending on the circumstances and the court’s findings. Te**oristic threats and false imprisonment are also felony-level offenses under state law, meaning Smith faces potential consequences on multiple fronts simultaneously.
As of this writing, no formal statement has been issued by Smith, his representatives, or the UFC regarding the arrest.
