Former UFC fighter Anthony Smith faces felony charges after allegedly threatening to kill his wife, forcing her into a vehicle, and attempting to run her over in Nebraska. A court set his bond at $500,000 with restrictions on contacting his spouse.
Former UFC Light Heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith, 38, was arrested in Nebraska on July 26, 2026, and charged with attempted first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats, and first-degree false imprisonment. Authorities allege the incident began at a Gretna bar, where Smith reportedly threatened to kill his wife if she did not return home with him. He then allegedly grabbed her, forced her into his vehicle, and attempted to run her over during the drive, according to prosecutors.
Timeline of the Alleged Incident
The altercation reportedly started at a Gretna bar on July 26, 2026, when Smith and his wife were involved in a dispute. According to the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office, Smith threatened to kill his wife if she did not enter his vehicle and return home with him. He allegedly grabbed her and forced her inside, per the criminal complaint. During the drive, she exited the vehicle, prompting Smith to threaten her again. Upon arriving home, she exited a second time, and Smith allegedly attempted multiple times to strike her with the vehicle, though she avoided injury.
A warrant was issued for Smith’s arrest after the incident, and he turned himself in. He was booked into Sarpy County Jail and appeared before a judge on July 29, 2026, with his bond set at $500,000. As a condition of release, Smith was ordered to have no contact with his wife. The Sarpy County Attorney’s Office provided additional details to MMAJunkie following his court appearance, confirming the charges and the alleged sequence of events.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The criminal complaint lists three felony charges against Smith: attempted first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats, and first-degree false imprisonment. If convicted, the attempted domestic assault charge carries a potential sentence of one to 50 years in prison, while the other two charges each carry up to three years. Smith has not publicly addressed the allegations and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case gained attention after TMZ initially reported Smith’s arrest without detailing the circumstances. Subsequent statements from the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office, shared with MMAJunkie, clarified the allegations. Smith’s wife was not physically injured during the incident.
Career Context and Recent Activities
Smith retired from the UFC in April 2025 after three consecutive losses, including a bout against Mingyang Zhang. He later signed with Jorge Masvidal’s Bare Knuckle MMA promotion, where he submitted Chase Sherman in his debut.
Neither Smith nor his management has issued a public statement regarding the charges, leaving the situation without direct commentary from the fighter.
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