Godofredo Pepey, a former competitor in the UFC, is currently being held in custody in Florida following his arrest on a range of charges, including kidnapping and domestic violence.
The 37-year-old Brazilian national is also subject to an immigration hold, which could lead to potential deportation from the United States.
Details from online court records reveal that Pepey faces four distinct charges. One of the most serious is kidnapping with the intent to inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim. Under Florida law, this felony offense could result in a life prison sentence if he is convicted.
Further charges against Pepey include domestic battery by strangulation, interfering with communications, and domestic battery involving physical contact.
While bail has been set at $120,000, Pepey remains detained because of the immigration hold. His arrest was initially reported by Combate.
Following the news of his arrest, Pepey`s wife, Samara Mello, shared a statement on Instagram addressing the allegations against the fighter with 22 professional bouts.
“My name is Samara Mello, I’m the wife of Godofredo Pepey, and I’m also a domestic violence survivor,” Mello wrote. “I want to say what many will never: domestic violence is real in the sports world, and it’s still a taboo that few have the courage to mention in the combat sports community. We can’t pretend it doesn’t exist. Domestic violence comes in many different forms: physical, emotional, mental, sexual and financial, and none of them is acceptable.
“Today, I’m getting myself back up and I’m incredibly thankful for having survived to be able to now make the difference in other women’s lives. When the violence happens inside your home it doesn’t only destroy one family, it impacts the entire community. We need to stop treating that as a secret. It’s in silence that violence grows. I hope the authorities in Brazil and the world understand that the blood in my face and my body drips on the hands of those who still sees femicide as a statistic and don’t do enough to change that. The next generations depend on our decisions now. This is not a problem to be treated, it needs to be abolished. I’m thankful to the fight community and for the support or organizations led by Rose Gracie, who takes it seriously and supports those who think there’s no way out.”
Pepey`s final fight in the UFC was in 2018; the promotion chose not to renew his contract after he suffered back-to-back losses. He concluded his tenure with the organization holding a 5-6 record. Since his departure from the UFC, Pepey has fought three times, with his most recent bout resulting in a loss at an Ares FC event in 2022.
