Eleven-time UFC veteran Godofredo Pepey has died in what police say appears to be a suicide.
Pepey, 38, was found unresponsive Saturday with a sheet around his neck in the Broward Sherrif’s Office main jail in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he was housed, a department spokesperson told MMA Junkie on Monday.
Emergency crews responded to the scene and transported him to Broward Health Medical Center where he later died. Police do not suspect foul play.
News of Pepey’s death was first reported by Brazilian reporter Leo Walker Guimaraes.
Pepey was held without bond on charges from a domestic violence arrest June 30 in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Pepey faced kidnapping, tampering with a victim, and two battery charges.
According to court records, police say Pepey and a female victim got into an argument over a “jealousy” issue. When the female attempted to leave and call someone, Pepey took her phone, dragged her back in the house by her hair, and choked her until she lost consciousness. The woman told police Pepey threw her to the ground and then smashed her face into it repeatedly. Police observed injuries to the woman’s face.
The court proceedings were still ongoing at the time of Pepey’s death. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Pepey, whose real name is Godofredo Castro de Oliveira, compete eleven times in the UFC from 2012 to 2018 following a stint on “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil, Season 1.” He went 5-6 in the UFC with three performance bonuses. His UFC wins came over Andre Fili, Noad Lahat, Dashon Johnson, Milton Vieira, and Mike De La Torre.
Pepey had not competed since a 2022 loss to Abdoul Abdouraguimov under the ARES FC banner.
