Former UFC Fighter Found Dead in Prison Months After Domestic Violence Arrest

A former UFC competitor has sadly died while incarcerated in a Florida prison, as reported by several sources. The combat athlete participat...

• A former UFC competitor has sadly died while incarcerated in a Florida prison, as reported by several sources.
• The combat athlete participated in the organization's featherweight class from 2012 to 2018.
• The athlete has been in detention since June after being accused of domestic violence against his spouse.

A former UFC competitor, Godofredo Pepey, passed away at the age of 38 while incarcerated in a Florida prison.

Officials have verified that an inquiry is being conducted to examine the details of his passing.

The Brazilian athlete, whose complete name was Godofredo Castro de Oliveira, has been in detention since June.

His arrest came after claims of domestic violence against his wife, Samara Mello.

Legal filings indicate he was dealing with several accusations, such as abduction, assault, and interfering with witnesses.

Castro was waiting for his trial on various charges, but it was disclosed on Monday that the former UFC athlete had died while in the prison facility.

Officials with the Broward Sheriff's Office verified the event to the Daily Mail, noting that personnel acted swiftly upon discovering the fighter unconscious in his cell.

Urgent actions were implemented until medical assistance arrived, but he could not be brought back to life.

Authorities have dismissed any suspicion of wrongdoing, with the official cause of death still pending a comprehensive report from the Broward Medical Examiner’s Office.

In a statement released by Mello's lawyer and referenced by theDaily Star, the family requested privacy and discretion:

The death of any individual while in custody is a significant issue. There are standard protocols that must be adhered to by the authorities, and information will be provided via official sources. Until further notice, we request respect for Samara and her family, and ask that speculation or damaging remarks be avoided.

The touching news was also announced by former UFC competitor Rony Bezerra, who was a close friend of Pepey after they both participated on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil.

Bezerra wrote on Instagram:

I have very sorrowful news. Regrettably, we have lost our brother, Godofredo Pepey. He was an exceptional individual, a faithful friend, and a remarkable warrior. May God grant him blessings wherever he may be.

Pepey's passing occurred several months after he was detained on charges of alleged domestic violence, which resulted in his wife being hurt. After the event, a GoFundMe initiative was created to assist Mello's recovery.

In her post on the page, she shared her journey as a survivor and advocated for increased recognition of domestic violence within sports, encouraging both officials and supporters to treat these issues with due seriousness.

In the description of the GoFundMe page, Mello stated:

My name is Samara Mello, I am the wife of Godofredo Pepey, and I have also experienced domestic violence.

Domestic abuse occurs within the sports arena, and it remains a sensitive topic that many are hesitant to address within the combat sports sector. We must not ignore its presence.

Today, I am reconstructing my life and deeply thankful for having survived to now be able to impact the lives of other women.

When acts of violence occur within the household, it doesn't only harm a single family — it affects the whole community. We must stop viewing this as something to be hidden.

I hope the officials in Brazil and globally recognize that the blood on my face and body lies with those who still view femicide as merely a number — and take insufficient action to address it.

Pepey, who was born in Fortaleza, Brazil, in 2003, participated in 11 UFC events from 2012 to 2018.

Over the course of his professional journey, he encountered multiple elite fighters in the featherweight class, such as Andre Fili, Shane Burgos, and Mirsad Bektic.

Following his departure from the UFC in 2018, he competed three additional times, with his last fight occurring in 2022, concluding his professional MMA career with 14 victories and seven defeats.

Two well-known fighters pass away unexpectedly

Earlier, Healthy Survival.ghIt was reported that the boxing world is in deep sorrow after the untimely deaths of Japanese boxers Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, who both suffered fatal brain injuries during the same event.

Hiromasa Urakawa passed away on August 9, 2025, due to brain injuries sustained during his August 2 match against Yoji Saito, which concluded with an eighth-round knockout. The 28-year-old was taken to the hospital following the fight but did not survive his wounds.