Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight title challenger-turned UFC desk analyst Anthony Smith was arrested Monday in Nebraska and booked on three felony charges, according to TMZ Sports.
The outlet reported that Smith, 38, was booked into a local county jail shortly before 9 p.m. on July 27, 2026. He reportedly faces charges of terroristic threats, first-degree false imprisonment and domestic violence causing serious bodily injury.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed what allegedly occurred before Smith’s arrest. Additional information regarding the allegations, his bond status or a potential court date was not immediately available as of publication.
According to TMZ, the domestic violence charge can carry a sentence of up to 20 years if convicted. The terroristic threats and first-degree false imprisonment charges can each carry sentences of up to three years.
Smith has not been convicted of any offense related to the arrest, and the charges remain allegations.
However, his retirement from competition was short-lived. Smith later signed with Jorge Masvidal’s Bare Knuckle MMA promotion as a Heavyweight and submitted Chase Sherman in his promotional debut (watch it), advancing to the semifinals of the $500,000 tournament.
Outside of competition, Smith has moved into a desk analyst role for UFC broadcasts on Paramount+, providing pre- and post-fight analysis.