About Godofredo Pepey
Godofredo Pepey, 38, Brazilian mixed martial artist.
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Full Biography
|Godofredo Castro de Oliveira (July 2, 1987 – November 9, 2025), better known as Godofredo Pepey, was a Brazilian mixed martial artist. A professional MMA competitor since 2003, Pepey competed in the UFC and was the Featherweight runner up on Globo's The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
Mixed martial arts career
Pepey got his start in martial arts training alongside his brother, Godofredo Claudio, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Pepey had his first professional MMA fight in 2003, at the age of fifteen, winning the fight via submission (armbar) in the first round. Pepey took a three-year hiatus from fighting after making his debut. He returned to active competition in April 2006 with a win over William Couto via submission. Pepey took an 18-month layoff from fighting before coming back with a win over Jesse Santiago via first round submission.
After going 3-0, Pepey again took a lengthy time off from MMA competition. He took nearly three years off for the second time in his career before coming back to earn his TKO victory over Nino Bala on February 6, 2010. Pepey continued fighting regularly, earning another stoppage win on July 3, 2010, in a rematch against Leandro Rodrigues Pontes after Leandro submitted due to strikes. He fought debuting fighter, Fabio Emanuel Rodrigues, at Combat Fighters Championship 1 on September 18, 2010. Pepey dominated the fight throughout the first round, and won the fight after Rodrigues did not answer for the second round. Pepey earned two more first round submission wins, bringing his record to 8-0, before trying out for the first installment of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
The Ultimate Fighter
In March 2012, it was revealed that Pepey was selected to be a participant on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. Pepey defeated Johnny Goncalves via submission in the first round to move into the Ultimate Fighter house, and become an official cast member.
Pepey was selected as the sixth pick (twelfth overall) by Vitor Belfort, to be a part of Team Vitor. In the first quarter-final fight Pepey was selected to fight Wagner Campos. Pepey won via unanimous decision after two rounds.
After Team Vitor went 7-1, Dana White demanded the teams being scrambled in order to make it a fair contest. Pepey was selected by Belfort to go to Team Wanderlei. Pepey was selected to fight Strikeforce veteran Rodrigo Damm in the first semi-final fight. However, after the doctors removed Damm from the competition, Pepey fought Marcos Vinicius. Pepey won the fight via second round submission, advancing him to the finals of the featherweight tournament.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Pepey made his UFC debut at UFC 147 on June 23, 2012, against Rony Jason to determine the featherweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In his second fight for the promotion, Pepey faced Milton Vieira on January 19, 2013, at UFC on FX 7. He won the fight via split decision.
Pepey faced Felipe Arantes on June 8, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 10. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.
Pepey was expected to face Sam Sicilia on September 4, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 28. However, Sicilia pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Felipe Arantes.
The bout with Sicilia eventually took place on November 9, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 32. Pepey lost the fight via TKO in the first round.
Pepey faced promotional newcomer Noad Lahat on March 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 38. He won the fight in spectacular fashion by landing a flying knee in the first round for a knockout. The win also earned Pepey his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
Pepey faced Dashon Johnson at UFC Fight Night 51 on September 13, 2014. He won the fight via submission in the first round. This win also earned him his second consecutive Performance of the Night bonus award.
Pepey faced Andre Fili on March 21, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 62. He won the fight via submission in the first round with a triangle choke. This win earned him his third straight Performance of the Night bonus award.
Pepey next faced Darren Elkins on July 23, 2016, at UFC on Fox 20. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Pepey faced Mike De La Torre on September 24, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 95. He won the fight via submission in the first round.
Pepey faced Shane Burgos on July 22, 2017, at UFC on Fox 25. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Pepey faced Mirsad Bektić on January 27, 2018, at UFC on Fox 27. He lost the fight via technical knock out.
On April 4, 2018, it was announced Pepey was a free agent after the UFC opted not to renew his contract.
Post-UFC career
After leaving the UFC, Pepey fought Alex Torres at Brave CF 15 on September 7, 2018. Pepey won the fight via armbar in the first round.
Pepey faced Abdoul Abdouraguimov on February 3, 2022, at Ares FC 3 for the AFC Welterweight Championship. He lost the bout via inverted triangle choke in the first round.
Personal life
Pepey ran for office of City councillor of Fortaleza at the 2024 Brazilian municipal elections for the Republicans.
Arrested on kidnapping, domestic violence charges and death
In 2025, Pepey was arrested in Deerfield Beach, Florida on kidnapping and domestic violence charges. He died in a prison unit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 9 November 2025, at the age of 38.
Championships and achievements
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil Featherweight Tournament Runner Up
- Performance of the Night (Three times)
- UFC.com Awards
- 2015: Ranked #2 Submission of the Year vs. Andre Fili
Mixed martial arts record
Mixed martial arts exhibition record
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
- espn.comGodofredo Pepey
- mmajunkie.usatoday.com"Ex-UFC fighter Godofredo Pepey vs. Abdoul Abdouraguimov welterweight title fight headlines ARES FC 3"
Reported coverage of Godofredo Pepey; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godofredo_Pepey
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Godofredo Pepey's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Godofredo Pepey born?
- A.November 9, 1986
- B.July 2, 1987correct
- C.June 23, 1987
- D.September 18, 1985
Godofredo Pepey was born Godofredo Castro de Oliveira on July 2, 1987.
Source: biographical introduction
2.Which family member trained alongside Godofredo Pepey at the start of his martial arts career?
- A.His father, Jose
- B.His cousin, William Couto
- C.His brother, Godofredo Claudiocorrect
- D.His uncle, Rodrigo Damm
Godofredo Pepey began his martial arts training with his brother, Godofredo Claudio, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Source: Mixed martial arts career
3.How old was Godofredo Pepey when he had his first professional MMA fight?
- A.Twenty-one
- B.Fifteencorrect
- C.Eighteen
- D.Seventeen
Godofredo Pepey had his first professional MMA fight in 2003, at the age of fifteen.
Source: Mixed martial arts career
4.Which coach selected Godofredo Pepey as a member of Team Vitor on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil?
- A.Rodrigo Damm
- B.Dana White
- C.Vitor Belfortcorrect
- D.Wanderlei Silva
Godofredo Pepey was the sixth pick selected by Vitor Belfort to be part of Team Vitor.
Source: The Ultimate Fighter
5.Against whom did Godofredo Pepey compete in the featherweight final of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil?
- A.Milton Vieira
- B.Rony Jasoncorrect
- C.Sam Sicilia
- D.Wagner Campos
Godofredo Pepey made his UFC debut at UFC 147 against Rony Jason to determine the featherweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
Source: Ultimate Fighting Championship
6.What method did Godofredo Pepey use to defeat Noad Lahat at UFC Fight Night 38?
- A.Armbar
- B.Flying kneecorrect
- C.Triangle choke
- D.Unanimous decision
Godofredo Pepey defeated Noad Lahat at UFC Fight Night 38 by landing a flying knee in the first round.
Source: Ultimate Fighting Championship
7.How many Performance of the Night bonus awards did Godofredo Pepey earn in his career?
- A.Four
- B.One
- C.Threecorrect
- D.Two
Godofredo Pepey earned his third straight Performance of the Night bonus award after his victory over Andre Fili.
Source: Ultimate Fighting Championship
8.What specific submission move did Godofredo Pepey use to defeat Andre Fili in 2015?
- A.Rear-naked choke
- B.Inverted triangle choke
- C.Triangle chokecorrect
- D.Armbar
Godofredo Pepey won the fight against Andre Fili via submission in the first round with a triangle choke.
Source: Ultimate Fighting Championship
9.In what year did the UFC announce that Godofredo Pepey was a free agent?
- A.2018correct
- B.2016
- C.2019
- D.2017
On April 4, 2018, it was announced that Godofredo Pepey was a free agent after the UFC chose not to renew his contract.
Source: Ultimate Fighting Championship
10.What title did Godofredo Pepey compete for at Ares FC 3?
- A.AFC Featherweight Championship
- B.UFC Interim Featherweight Title
- C.AFC Welterweight Championshipcorrect
- D.Brave CF Featherweight Title
Godofredo Pepey faced Abdoul Abdouraguimov on February 3, 2022, at Ares FC 3 for the AFC Welterweight Championship.
Source: Post-UFC career
11.For which political party did Godofredo Pepey run for city councillor in 2024?
- A.Liberal Party
- B.Democratic Socialists
- C.Labour Party
- D.Republicanscorrect
Godofredo Pepey ran for the office of City councillor of Fortaleza at the 2024 Brazilian municipal elections for the Republicans.
Source: Personal life
12.In which city did Godofredo Pepey pass away?
- A.Deerfield Beach
- B.Fort Lauderdalecorrect
- C.Fortaleza
- D.Rio de Janeiro
Godofredo Pepey died in a prison unit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 9 November 2025.
Source: Arrested on kidnapping, domestic violence charges and death
13.What was Godofredo Pepey's final record ranking for Submission of the Year in 2015?
- A.#3
- B.#5
- C.#2correct
- D.#1
In 2015, Godofredo Pepey was ranked #2 for Submission of the Year for his fight against Andre Fili.
Source: Championships and achievements
14.Against which fighter did Godofredo Pepey lose his first post-UFC bout at Brave CF 15?
- A.Darren Elkins
- B.Abdoul Abdouraguimov
- C.Alex Torrescorrect
- D.Shane Burgos
After leaving the UFC, Godofredo Pepey fought Alex Torres at Brave CF 15 and won via armbar in the first round.
Source: Post-UFC career
15.How old was Godofredo Pepey when he died in 2025?
- A.37
- B.39
- C.38correct
- D.36
Godofredo Pepey died in a prison unit on 9 November 2025 at the age of 38.
Source: Arrested on kidnapping, domestic violence charges and death
16.Which opponent was replaced by Felipe Arantes at UFC Fight Night 28?
- A.Sam Siciliacorrect
- B.Noad Lahat
- C.Mike De La Torre
- D.Andre Fili
Godofredo Pepey was expected to face Sam Sicilia at UFC Fight Night 28, but Sicilia pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Felipe Arantes.
Source: Ultimate Fighting Championship
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