NBA star Jamal Murray is making the most of his time on the mats while his return to the basketball hardwood remains weeks away. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and Murray, who recently clinched the 2023 NBA title with the Denver Nuggets, have formed an unexpected friendship, as showcased in a recent YouTube video of their grappling adventures.

In the video, Volkanovski engages in light sparring with Murray before welcoming a friendly challenge. The Canadian athlete aims to test his grappling skills by lasting a minute against Volkanovski without being submitted. They establish a no leglock rule before engaging in the grappling session.

Murray impressively maintains top position initially, owing in part to his towering 6-foot-4 frame and solid 215-pound weight advantage over Volkanovski. Towards the end of the challenge, Volkanovski comes close to taking Murray's back but opts for a guillotine position as the buzzer sounds.

Volkanovski notes Murray's deceptive strength, ultimately outworking him and securing a submission in a longer grappling session. Murray humorously channels his inner "Black Beast," Derrick Lewis, exclaiming, "I'm Derrick Lewis - just get up!"

The video concludes with a few basketball lowlights of Volkanovski, reminding viewers that even elite athletes like these two excel in their respective domains but may face challenges outside their expertise.