Godofredo “Pepey” Castro, a 38-year-old former UFC featherweight, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Broward Sheriff’s Office main jail in Fort Lauderdale over the weekend and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Authorities say they are treating the death as an apparent suicide and do not suspect foul play. A sheriff’s office spokesperson said Castro was discovered with a sheet around his neck before first responders transported him to Broward Health Medical Center.
Castro had been in custody since June 30, 2025, after an arrest in Deerfield Beach on multiple domestic-violence charges, including kidnapping, tampering with a victim, and two counts of battery. Court records cited in reports note he was being held without bond and had pleaded not guilty; legal proceedings were still ongoing at the time of his death.
The news first rippled through Brazilian MMA circles before spreading wider. Fellow fighter Rony Bezerra posted a message mourning “a partner, a friend, a brother,” while a lawyer for Castro’s wife, Samara Mello, urged respect for the family and cautioned against speculation as authorities follow proper procedures. It’s the kind of statement you hear in grim moments like this - and it matters. Words can either pour gasoline or keep the temperature down.
In the cage, fans remember Pepey as a wild card - sometimes chaotic, often entertaining. He fought 11 times in the UFC between 2012 and 2018, going 5-6 with three performance bonuses, after breaking through on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. He was released by the promotion in 2018 following a loss to Mirsad Bektić, then continued competing on the regional scene. His final bout came in February 2022 under the ARES FC banner in Paris, where he was submitted by Abdoul Abdouraguimov.
No official cause of death has been released as the investigation continues. But the outlines are painfully familiar to long-time fight watchers: a talented veteran, legal turmoil, a jail cell, and a sudden end. You don’t need to embellish this story - it’s already heavy. And, yes, it will prompt tough conversations about support systems for fighters once the lights fade. That conversation can wait a beat. For now, a family is grieving, teammates are posting memories, and the sport is processing another loss.
