Anthony Smith breaks silence after pleading not guilty to four felony charges in Nebraska

Former UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith has broken his silence following his arrest in Nebraska, posting a message on Instagram days after pleading not guilty to four felony charges stemming from a July incident involving his wife.

Smith faces one Class 2 felony charge, one count of making terroristic threats, and two counts of first-degree false imprisonment. Prosecutors allege he threatened his wife during an altercation at a Gretna, Nebraska, bar on July 26 and later attempted to strike her with his vehicle. Authorities confirmed she was not physically injured.

“Happy to be home with my household full of ‘whys,’” Smith wrote alongside a family photo. “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.”

Smith entered his not guilty plea earlier this month and is scheduled to return to court on September 21. His wife, Mikhala Renee Newman, has publicly disputed the allegations and previously defended her husband.

The 36-year-old has also been granted permission by the court to travel to the Dominican Republic from September 27 through October 3 for a professional sporting engagement. Smith recently returned to competition following his departure from the UFC, submitting Chase Sherman in a Gamebred FC bare-knuckle MMA tournament.