Anthony Smith breaks silence following arrest: ‘I’ll be able to tell my story’

Former UFC fighter Anthony Smith has broken his silence following his arrest in Nebraska on felony charges stemming from a July domestic incident. Smith, who recently pleaded not guilty to one Class 2 felony charge, one count of terroristic threats, and two first-degree false-imprisonment charges, returned home and posted a family photograph on Instagram alongside a cryptic message.

"Happy to be home with my household full of 'whys,'" Smith wrote. "I'll be able to tell my story someday soon. Until then…you guys just keep making it up as you go. Character is revealed in chaos."

Prosecutors allege that Smith threatened his wife, Mikhala Renee Newman, during an altercation at a Gretna, Nebraska bar on July 26, and later attempted to strike her with his vehicle. Authorities reported that she sustained no physical injuries. Notably, Newman has publicly disputed the allegations and defended her husband, indicating potential complications in the prosecution's case.

Smith is scheduled to return to court on September 21. However, he has been granted permission to travel to the Dominican Republic from September 27 through October 3 for a professional sporting event. The former UFC contender has recently returned to competition outside the UFC, having submitted Chase Sherman in a Gamebred FC bare-knuckle MMA tournament. The domestic incident marks a significant disruption in Smith's attempt to rebuild his fighting career following his departure from the UFC.