OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — UFC star Anthony “Lionheart” Smith was in a fight to protect his family when an intruder entered his home on April 5.
At about 4am on April 5, a suspect got into Smith’s west Omaha home. Smith says he accidentally left the garage door open and the suspect started screaming at the top of his lungs when he was inside.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says he engaged the suspect and held him until they arrived. Smith says the man came towards him so he struck him multiple times and did everything he could to subdue the suspect.
“At night time usually it’s because people want to do something to you. They want to hurt you, they have something, whether it’s a weapon, a gun, a knife, or a bat so I’m expecting he has something and I don’t. So I just needed to get to him and honestly do as much damage as I could before I was going to succumb to whatever he had,” Smith explained.
The DCSO cited Luke Haberman, 21, for trespassing. He was taken to the hospital but has since been released. Authorities are also investigating Haberman for allegedly breaking into another man’s home in the area, and trying to break into vehicles. He was apparently caught on video.
Sheriff’s say Haberman was likely under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“There was probably some evidence at the scene where he was found, some of his mannerisms, the way he was tells that he’s on something or was on something but again that’s something we’re looking into,” Douglas County Sheriff’s Captain Wayne Hudson explained. “It’s your own home. I mean you can defend yourself in your own home. In this situation here the individual (Smith) was professionally trained to subdue individuals so based on what he does for a sport.”
Smith says he’s doing good but his wife and daughters are shaken up by what happened.
Haberman was charged with assault of a female and destruction of property in Lincoln in February.
DCSO says they will turn over their findings to prosecutors when the investigation concludes.
Smith still is training to fight Glover Teixiera on April 25 in the main event of UFC Fight Night 173. Smith has a career professional record of 32-14 and is #3 in the UFC Light Heavyweight Rankings.
.@lionheartasmith says he's still ready to fight on 4/25 even after he fought off an intruder at his home over the weekend. This is video for the suspect after he allegedly broke into another man's home before going to Smith's. Smith describes what happened.@3NewsNowOmaha pic.twitter.com/mGwSlTjimo
— Jake Wasikowski (@jakewasikowski) April 9, 2020
