Former UFC fighter and “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” runner-up Godofredo Pepey was found dead of an apparent suicide this past weekend in a Florida prison cell.
Pepey’s fellow UFC veteran and “TUF: Brazil” castmate, Rony Jason, announced news of Pepey’s death Monday on social media. A spokesperson for the Broward Sheriff’s Office main jail in Fort Lauderdale told MMA Junkie that Pepey was “found unresponsive Saturday with a sheet around his neck.” The former UFC fighter was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 38 years old.
Brazilian reporter Léo Walker Guimaraes first reported the news Sunday.
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Pepey was arrested this past June on a litany of charges that included kidnapping and domestic violence.
MMA Junkie has more:
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 first rose to prominence with a run to the finals of 2012’s first season of “TUF: Brazil,” where he ultimately lost to tourney winner Jason. Pepey competed for the UFC 11 times from 2012-18, accumulating five wins and three Performance of the Night bonuses.
He was released from the promotion in early 2018 following a first-round knockout loss to Mirsad Bektić, after which he fought three more times on MMA’s regional scene.
Pepey’s final MMA bout came in February 2022 on an Ares FC card in which he lost via first-round submission at the hands of Abdoul Abdouraguimov.
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In total, Pepey held a 14-7 (1 NC) pro MMA record across 22 bouts.
