Anthony Smith released on $500K bail, ex-UFC fighter currently facing 3 felony charges

Anthony Smith, the former UFC light heavyweight who once challenged Jon Jones for the title, has been released from Sarpy County Jail in Nebraska after posting $500,000 bond. Smith was arrested on Monday evening and held in custody until his initial court hearing on Wednesday morning, where the judge set his bond at half a million dollars.

The ex-fighter is facing three felony charges: Attempted First Degree Domestic Assault (a Class II felony carrying a potential sentence of 1–50 years), Terroristic Threats (a Class 3A felony with possible penalties of 0–3 years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and 9–18 months of post-release supervision), and First Degree False Imprisonment (a Class IIIA felony). The arrest affidavit has been sealed by the courts, so additional details about the charges remain unavailable at this time. No date for Smith's next hearing has been announced.

Smith reached the peak of his UFC career as one of the promotion's top light heavyweights, eventually earning a title shot against Jon Jones in 2019. He retired from the UFC after suffering three consecutive losses but recently returned to competition in bare-knuckle MMA, defeating Chase Sherman in April. His arrest marks a significant development in the fighter's life outside the octagon.