Former UFC fighter Godofredo Pepey has passed away at just 38 years of age.
The 11-time Octagon veteran was found unresponsive in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, jail cell on Saturday.
According to a report from MMA Junkie, police are treating Pepey’s premature death as a suicide.
The 14–7 (1 NC) MMA star was discovered with a sheet wrapped around his neck. Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported him to Broward Health Medical Center, where he later died.
Godofredo Pepey 1987–2025
Brazilian reporter Leo Walker Guimaraes was the first to report news of Godofredo Pepey’s death.
The ex-UFC star – real name Godofredo Castro de Oliveira – was held without bond on charges from a domestic violence arrest on June 30. Pepey faced kidnapping, tampering with a victim, and two battery charges.
“I was informed that the former UFC fighter Godofredo Pepey has passed away,” Walker tweeted in Portuguese on Monday.
“The case is still under investigation, with authorities looking into whether it was suicide or murder.
“The athlete had been accused of kidnapping and domestic violence against his wife, Sara Mello.”
Court proceedings were ongoing as Pepey pleaded not guilty to all charges before his untimely death.
Pepey joined MMA’s premier promotion in 2012, following a stint on ‘The Ultimate Fighter Brazil’.
During a 5-6 UFC run, he picked up wins over Andre Fili, Noad Lahat, Dashon Johnson, Milton Vieira, and Mike De La Torre, as well as three performance bonuses.
Pepey had three fights after being released by the UFC in 2018, but he had not competed since suffering a loss to Abdoul Abdouraguimov under the ARES FC banner in February 2022.