Godofredo Castro

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.

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

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Abdoul Abdouraguimov Submission (inverted triangle choke) Ares FC 3

Paris, France NC

Pavel Gordeev NC (illegal knee) RCC Intro 3

Ekaterinburg, Russia Win

Alex Torres Submission (armbar) Brave CF 15

Bucaramanga, Colombia Loss

Mirsad Bektić TKO (body punch) UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Loss

Shane Burgos Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum

Uniondale, New York, United States Win

Mike De La Torre Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Länsberg

Brasília, Brazil Loss

Darren Elkins Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Andre Fili Submission (flying triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Dashon Johnson Submission (triangle armbar) UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski

Brasília, Brazil Win

Noad Lahat KO (flying knee) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2

Natal, Brazil Loss

Sam Sicilia TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 2

Goiânia, Brazil Loss

Felipe Arantes TKO (elbows and punches) UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum

Fortaleza, Brazil Win

Milton Vieira Decision (split) UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping

São Paulo, Brazil Loss

Rony Jason Decision (unanimous) UFC 147

Belo Horizonte, Brazil Win

Kelles Albuquerque Submission (arm-triangle choke) Ceará Fighters 2

Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil Win

Leandro Tavares Submission (armbar) Champions Night 15

São Benedito, Brazil Win

Fabio Emanuel TKO (retirement) Ceará Fighters 1

Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil Win

Leandro Pontes TKO (body punches) Sertao Fights 1

Tauá, Brazil Win

Nino Bala TKO (punches) Champions Night 13

Fortaleza, Brazil Win

Jesse Santiago Submission (armbar) Rino's FC 4

Fortaleza, Brazil Win

William Couto Submission (guillotine choke) Tridenium Combat 1

Fortaleza, Brazil Win

Leandro Pontes Submission (armbar) Shock FC 3

Fortaleza, Brazil Mixed martial arts exhibition record Win

Marcos Vinicius Submission (armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil (airdate)

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Wagner Campos Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil (airdate)

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Jhonny Gonçalves Submission (triangle choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil (airdate)

São Paulo, Brazil