UFC middleweight Rousimar Palhares received a peculiar request in the last few weeks - Chael Sonnen asked to train with him. Toquinho, who is coming off a tough loss to Alan Belcher at UFC on Fox 3 earlier this month, is a gifted submission grappler and could help Sonnen, who rematches Anderson Silva at UFC 148 for the UFC middleweight title, shore up his defensive liabilities on the ground (I guess), but Palhares was having none of it. He told Tatame he wasn't interested in helping the American:

"He asked to train with me for Anderson but I’m not training anyone… Murilo said his coach has called him saying he wanted to come and train with me, but I said I won’t do it."

He also made it very clear whom he pledges his allegiance to. And even took a shot at Chael in the process:

"I’m rooting for Anderson", guarantees. "A fight is a fight… If he fights as much as he talks… Let’s see".

I don't think Sonnen will have a problem finding training partners either way, but it's interesting that he might go to Palhares of all people for help.

SBN coverage of UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II