TLDR
- Godofredo Pepey, 38-year-old Brazilian MMA fighter, was found dead in his Broward County jail cell in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Police found him unresponsive with a sheet around his neck and are treating the death as an apparent suicide
- Pepey was being held without bond on domestic violence charges including kidnapping, tampering with a victim, and two battery charges from a June 2025 arrest
- He competed 11 times in the UFC between 2012 and 2018, recording a 5-6 record with three performance bonuses
- Pepey had pleaded not guilty to all charges and legal proceedings were ongoing at the time of his death
Former UFC featherweight Godofredo “Pepey” Castro has died in what authorities are treating as an apparent suicide. The 38-year-old Brazilian fighter was found unresponsive in his cell at the Broward Sheriff’s Office main jail in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
A spokesperson for the Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Pepey was discovered Saturday with a sheet around his neck. Emergency crews responded to the scene immediately. He was transported to Broward Health Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Police have stated they do not suspect foul play in the case. Brazilian reporter Leo Walker Guimaraes first broke the news of Pepey’s death.
Pepey had been in custody since June 30, 2025, following a domestic violence arrest in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He was being held without bond. The charges against him included kidnapping, tampering with a victim, and two counts of battery.
Exluchador de UFC Godofredo ‘Pepey’ Castro, de 38 años, hallado muerto en prisión https://t.co/Xnne84dtn9
— FVDigital (@digital_fv) November 11, 2025
According to court records, police say Pepey and a female victim argued over a jealousy issue. When the woman tried to leave and call someone, Pepey allegedly took her phone. Police say he dragged her back into the house by her hair and choked her until she lost consciousness.
The woman told police that Pepey threw her to the ground. She said he then smashed her face into the ground repeatedly. Officers observed visible injuries to the woman’s face when they responded to the scene.
Legal proceedings were still ongoing at the time of Pepey’s death. Pepey had entered a not guilty plea to all charges. No trial date had been set.
Career in the UFC
Pepey, whose real name was Godofredo Castro de Oliveira, competed in the UFC from 2012 to 2018. He first appeared on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil, Season 1. His UFC career spanned 11 fights.
He finished with a 5-6 record inside the octagon. Pepey earned three performance bonuses during his time with the promotion. His victories came against Andre Fili, Noad Lahat, Dashon Johnson, Milton Vieira, and Mike De La Torre.
The UFC released Pepey in 2018 after he lost to Mirsad Bektic. He continued fighting on the regional circuit after leaving the promotion. His most recent fight was in February 2022 when he lost to Abdoul Abdouraguimov under the ARES FC banner.
Community Response
A lawyer for Samara Mello, Pepey’s wife, released a statement following his death. The statement emphasized that the death of someone in custody is a serious matter. It noted that American authorities must follow proper procedures.
The lawyer asked for respect for the family and Pepey’s wife Samara. The statement also requested that people avoid malicious comments and speculation.
Fellow Brazilian fighter Rony Bezerra posted about Pepey on social media. “I’m here to bring some terrible news. Unfortunately, we lost our partner, Godfredo Pepey,” he wrote. He described Pepey as “a partner, a friend, a brother” and expressed his sadness at the loss.
Pepey was 38 years old at the time of his death and had not competed professionally since 2022.
