Former UFC fighter Livinha Souza was arrested in Araraquara, Brazil, for alleged involvement in drug trafficking and illegal weapon possession, but she denies the charges, claiming her marijuana use is legal and the firearm was not yet regularized.
Livinha Souza, a former UFC fighter and Invicta FC champ, found herself in hot water. Arrested in Araraquara, Brazil, she’s accused of drug trafficking and illegal weapon possession. Quite the headline just before tonight’s Global Fight League 2025 draft, where she’s eligible for selection.
Local police say they got an anonymous tip. They showed up at her house with a warrant on Thursday morning. What did they find? A .380 pistol, 59 bullets, marijuana, and steroids. Not looking great for Souza, who was detained.
But wait—Souza denies any involvement in drug trafficking. Her lawyer, Glaucio Dalponte Mattiole, spoke to MMA Fighting on Friday.
“The search and seizure were based on anonymous complaints,” Mattiole wrote in a statement. “Yes, marijuana was seized, but she’s been open about using it. And hey, she was the first UFC fighter in Brazil to snag a CBD sponsorship! She’s all for legalizing marijuana and has already clarified her stance to the courts.”
About that firearm? “It was acquired ages ago,” Mattiole explains. “Due to various setbacks, it’s not yet legally registered. But she’s cooperating fully with authorities and is confident the investigation will clear her name.”
Souza (14-4) hasn’t fought since October 2021 when she lost to Randa Markos. In the UFC, she went 3-3 with wins over Ashley Yoder, Sarah Frota, and Alex Chambers. Back in 2015, she claimed the Invicta FC title by submitting Katja Kankaanpaa and defended it once against DeAnna Bennett before losing it to Angela Hill.