Anthony Smith arrest: Ex-UFC contender jailed on felony charges
Anthony Smith was booked in Nebraska on felony charges including domestic violence causing serious bodily injury, TMZ Sports reports.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
The Anthony Smith arrest in Nebraska puts the former UFC title challenger in county jail on three felony counts, according to TMZ Sports.
Smith, 38, was booked into a local county jail Monday evening shortly before 9 p.m., the outlet reported. He faces charges of terroristic threats, first-degree false imprisonment and domestic violence causing serious bodily injury.
TMZ Sports reported that the events leading to the arrest were not yet clear. The charges remain allegations at this stage, and the outlet did not report any plea or public response from Smith.
Why was Anthony Smith arrested?
According to TMZ Sports, Smith was arrested on three felony charges in Nebraska: terroristic threats, first-degree false imprisonment and domestic violence causing serious bodily injury. The report said details of what allegedly happened before the arrest had not been made public.
The domestic violence charge is the most serious of the three listed in the report. TMZ Sports said that count can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The other two charges, terroristic threats and first-degree false imprisonment, could each carry up to three years, according to the outlet.
Smith had not yet appeared before a judge at the time of the report, and bond had not been set, TMZ Sports said.
Anthony Smith’s UFC career
Smith is best known to fight fans as “Lionheart,” a longtime mixed martial artist who competed at middleweight and light heavyweight. TMZ Sports described him as one of the leading 185-pound and 205-pound fighters of his era.
His biggest UFC moment came in 2019, when he challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight championship. Smith lost that title fight.
Smith later exited the UFC after an April 2025 defeat to Mingyang Zhang, according to TMZ Sports. The report said his retirement from competition did not last long.
Earlier this year, Smith fought for Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion and won by first-round stoppage, TMZ Sports reported.
The case is still in its early stage. No additional details about the alleged incident, court schedule or bond decision were reported.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.