A former UFC fighter tragically passed away late last week, leaving the MMA world devastated. Godofredo Castro de Oliveira, better known as Godofredo Pepey, was found dead in a Florida jail cell on Saturday, with early reports suggesting he took his own life. He was 38. A detention deputy discovered him unresponsive before 8.00 pm during a routine check, prompting them to alert medical authorities.

After staff at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office found him unresponsive at the agency’s main jail in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, detectives reported that they discovered a sheet around his neck and immediately removed it while they performed life-saving measures. Medical personnel then transferred Pepey to Broward Health Medical Center for further evaluation, where authorities officially declared him dead.

Investigators have revealed that they are treating his death as an apparent suicide, and they currently suspect no foul play. Medical examiners are still reviewing the official cause of death, but early findings indicate that the evidence aligns with self-harm. UFC fans now face a heartbreaking moment, as Pepey once emerged as a rising talent who fought several well-respected names in the sport and delivered memorable performances that helped him stand out in the featherweight division. However, after leaving the UFC in 2018, life took a different turn. The former ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ Brazil runner-up had been incarcerated in Florida on multiple charges after an arrest in June this year. Despite the charges, Pepey had denied the charges against him.

For many MMA fans, the recent news has been heartbreaking. Pepey was once seen as a dynamic and unpredictable talent, remembered for his creativity inside the Octagon and his willingness to face tough competition throughout his UFC career.

A look back at Godofredo Pepey’s promising run in the UFC

In 2012, the Brazilian featherweight fighter entered the UFC as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil Season 1, which was coached by two of the country’s legends, Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort, and he was part of Team Vitor. Among the rising talents, Pepey made it to the runner-up position, even securing a solid armbar victory over Marcos Vinicius in Round 2 during the show. However, his official UFC career actually started with a loss.

At UFC 147, Pepey’s undefeated record was broken by Rony Jason, and after that, his UFC career became a little inconsistent, often going one win followed by another loss. But in 2014-2015, the Brazilian had the most impressive run of his UFC career as he defeated three opponents back-to-back, all by finishes, all in the very first round, earning him three performance bonuses during that stretch.

In the process, he also faced some of the well-known featherweight contenders in the promotion, like Darren Elkins, Andre Fili, and former UFC fighter Shane Burgos. However, after losing to Mirsad Bektić in 2018 at a UFC Fight Night event, Pepey was released by the promotion. After that, he joined BRAVE CF and continued fighting in other promotions.

As the MMA community mourns another fallen fighter, fans continue to remember Godofredo ‘Pepey’ Castro de Oliveira for the excitement he brought to the cage and the passion that defined his career. Rest in peace, Godofredo Pepey!