Mikhala Smith, wife of former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith, has released a statement following her husband’s arrest on multiple charges, including attempted first-degree domestic assault and terroristic threats. Anthony Smith surrendered to authorities on July 27th after an alleged domestic incident involving his wife on Sunday. The charges stem from an altercation that reportedly occurred at a Nebraska bar.
Details of the Alleged Incident
According to a statement from the Sarpy County District Attorney’s Office, Anthony Smith is accused of threatening to kill his wife if she did not accompany him home. The allegations further state that Smith grabbed and pushed his wife into his vehicle. During the drive, she reportedly managed to exit the car, but Smith allegedly continued to make threats and insisted she return. Upon arriving home, investigators claim Smith made several attempts to strike his wife with his vehicle.
Fortunately, his wife was unharmed and able to evade the vehicle. Anthony Smith subsequently turned himself in to law enforcement the following day without incident. He was released on a $500,000 bond, with court orders mandating he stay away from his wife and remain within the state of Nebraska.
Mikhala Smith’s Statement
In her first public comments since the arrest, Mikhala Smith shared her perspective on the situation. While her personal social media account is set to private, Anthony Smith’s management reposted a comment from her. In the statement, she expressed her deep affection for her husband, stating, “I love Anthony with every ounce of my being! He is a good man, a great dad, and an incredible husband who loves us endlessly. Anyone that knows him can attest to that.”
Addressing the incident directly, Mikhala Smith suggested that a mental health struggle was misconstrued. “They made a mental health struggle into something it wasn’t,” she wrote. “I am safe and always was safe. He would never hurt me. Ever. I called for help to protect him from himself.”
Anthony Smith’s Career and Upcoming Court Date
Anthony Smith, known by his ring name “Lionheart,” retired from mixed martial arts in April 2025 after a TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang in Kansas City. He later returned to competition a year later, securing a submission victory over Chase Sherman at Gambred Bareknuckle MMA 9, an event that combined MMA and bare-knuckle boxing rules. Smith has also been a regular presence on UFC broadcast analysis desks.
His legal proceedings are ongoing, with a scheduled appearance in Sarpy County District Court set for August 17th.
