Dana White Reacts to Anthony Smith’s Felony Arrest After Wife and Manager Release Statements

UFC CEO Dana White send words of supports to former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith after recent arrest.

Dana White Reacts to Anthony Smith’s Felony Arrest After Wife and Manager Release Statements

Dana White reacts to the Anthony Smith situation (via X)

Dana White has seen countless athletes come and go during his long tenure leading the UFC since 2001. He has also maintained strong relationships with many retired fighters. Recently, former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith was arrested on felony charges and White has reacted to it.

Smith was arrested following an alleged domestic incident in Gretna, Nebraska. Authorities accused the former UFC contender of threatening his wife and attempting to strike her with his vehicle. He now faces felony charges, including attempted first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats, and first-degree false imprisonment.

Manager Brian Butler said his team was aware of Smith’s arrest but chose not to comment until the facts and allegations were fully established. He urged the public to avoid rushing to judgment or spreading rumors while the legal process continues. Butler’s statement was followed by a public message of support from Smith’s wife, Mikhala Renee Newman.

There’s not a lot I can say right now. 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. 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.

Mikhala Renee Newman via Instagram

White has maintained a strong relationship with Smith throughout his UFC career and retirement. Smith also remained involved with the promotion as a UFC analyst. While attending UFC Serbia in Belgrade, White addressed Smith’s recent arrest after statements from his wife and manager.

Well he’s one of those guys, too, that you don’t expect to see that happen. So I don’t know enough about it, I don’t know enough of the details. I’ve been on the road this whole time. But I just hope it works out for him and his family and his kids.

Dana White via The Mac Life

Smith later appeared before a Nebraska judge, who set his bond at $500,000 during his initial court hearing. The judge also ordered him to have no contact with his wife as a condition of his release. Smith was subsequently released from custody, while the felony case remains ongoing.

This is not the first recent arrest White has addressed involving a former UFC fighter. He also discussed former UFC superstar Dustin Poirier‘s arrest at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The 57-year-old CEO revealed that the UFC offers support and wellness resources to current and former fighters when needed.

Smith’s final UFC appearance came against Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City in April 2025. The Chinese light heavyweight secured a first-round TKO with brutal elbow strikes, ending Smith’s career inside the Octagon. The defeat marked Smith’s retirement after a nine-year-long UFC run.

Despite frequent criticism over his treatment of UFC fighters, Dana White has consistently remained involved in the lives of many athletes after their careers.

His response to Anthony Smith’s legal situation reflected that continued relationship, as the former title challenger now awaits the next stage of his ongoing court proceedings.

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Dana White gets candid about potentially hosting a UFC Spain event

The UFC has staged events across the world, selling out some of the sport’s biggest arenas and stadiums. The promotion recently made history by hosting UFC Freedom 250 on the White House grounds. The landmark event reportedly drew 34 million global viewers, making it one of the UFC’s biggest broadcasts to date.

Dana White has long pushed to bring the UFC to Spain. During Ilia Topuria‘s dominant championship reigns, talks centered around staging an event at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Although those plans never materialized, White has continued pursuing a Spanish debut.

Dana White
Dana White reveals 130,000 people attended the UFC Freedom 250 event [via Complex]

White previously revealed that security concerns had become the biggest obstacle to staging a UFC event in Spain. He explained that organizing the necessary logistics had proven difficult despite continued interest in the market. While speaking in Belgrade, the UFC boss once again addressed the possibility of finally bringing the promotion there.

It’s never been easy to do an event in Spain — Actually it is kind of easy to get into Spain isn’t it, but we’ve had a tough time.

Dana White told the UFC Belgrade media team

The UFC’s recent debut in Serbia became a historic event as UFC Fight Night Belgrade set a new record for the most finishes in a modern UFC event. The card delivered a memorable showcase for the promotion’s expansion. It is now up to Dana White to bring a similar spectacle to Spain after years of discussions.

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