Former UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges stemming from a July domestic incident involving his wife in Nebraska. Following his plea, his scheduled August 17 arraignment was canceled, and he is now required to appear in court for a status hearing on September 21.
Smith faces severe legal jeopardy, including an attempted Class 1 felony charge (punishable by 1 to 50 years in prison), terroristic threats, and two counts of first-degree false imprisonment. Prosecutors allege that on July 26, 2026, Smith threatened to kill his wife at a bar in Gretna, forced her into his vehicle, and later attempted to strike her with the car multiple times outside their home.
Smith’s wife, Mikhala Renee Newman, publicly defended him on social media, framing the event as a mental health crisis rather than an assault:
“There’s not a lot I can say right now. I love Anthony with every ounce of my being… They made a mental health struggle into something it wasn’t. I am safe and always was safe. He would never hurt me. Ever. I called for help to protect him from himself.”
Smith remains free on a $500,000 bond pending his September court appearance.
