Roughly one month out from the beginning of his eighth year in the NBA, Jamal Murray made one final trip to the mats to end his summer. A well-known MMA fan, Murray spent his most recent training session with former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and other members of the City Kickboxing team.
Retired UFC fighter Tyson Pedro joined Volkanovski and Murray in the training session that was later shared on Instagram. Per the photos posted, the trio trained with other fighters at the Freestyle MMA gym in New South Wales, Australia.
The practice appeared to have been grappling-centric and led by Freestyle MMA head coach Joe Lopez.
![Tyson Pedro (far left), Alexander Volkanovski (second from left), and Jamal Murray (center left) train at Freestyle MMA. [Image courtesy: @alexvolkanovski on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/f655f-17267868104191-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/f655f-17267868104191-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/f655f-17267868104191-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/f655f-17267868104191-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/f655f-17267868104191-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/f655f-17267868104191-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/f655f-17267868104191-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/f655f-17267868104191-1920.jpg 1920w)
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Volkanovski, the most experienced fighter of the group, was also seen in the photos teaching Murray basic grappling techniques. Despite hailing from different countries, the two athletes share a friendship.
![Alexander Volkanovski (right) instructing Jamal Murray (top left). [Image courtesy: @alexvolkanovski on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/91702-17267869497372-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/91702-17267869497372-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/91702-17267869497372-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/91702-17267869497372-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/91702-17267869497372-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/91702-17267869497372-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/91702-17267869497372-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/91702-17267869497372-1920.jpg 1920w)
'The Great' also put in quality mat time of his own with Pedro. Among the key members of the City Kickboxing team, Volkanovski and Pedro are two of the most notable fighters out of Australia.
![Alexander Volkanovski (bottom) working with Tyson Pedro (top). [Image courtesy: @alexvolkanovski on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/9aabc-17267872753693-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/9aabc-17267872753693-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/9aabc-17267872753693-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/9aabc-17267872753693-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/9aabc-17267872753693-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/9aabc-17267872753693-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/9aabc-17267872753693-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/9aabc-17267872753693-1920.jpg 1920w)
Volkanovski's post ended with a picture of him and Murray training together. The 27-year-old point guard was photographed with back control of the former pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter while threatening a choke.
![Jamal Murray (top) training with Alexander Volkanovski (bottom). [Image courtesy: @alexvolkanovski on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c42c-17267873587556-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c42c-17267873587556-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c42c-17267873587556-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c42c-17267873587556-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c42c-17267873587556-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c42c-17267873587556-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c42c-17267873587556-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c42c-17267873587556-1920.jpg 1920w)
Alexander Volkanovski attends UFC 305 with Jamal Murray
Although he spends much time in New Zealand with the City Kickboxing team, Alexander Volkanovski has primarily been in his home country of Australia since his last fight at UFC 298. While being in Australia, Volkanovski attended UFC 305 to support his teammate, Israel Adesanya, in the main event.
Volkanovski was joined at the event by Jamal Murray, who was fresh off an appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Murray represented Canada at the Olympics but is a frequent visitor to Australia due to his interest in martial arts and his relationship with 'The Great.'