Trainer: Cerrone's cardio major advantage at UFC 246

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone's trainer Shara Vigeant believes his conditioning will be a key factor in defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 246.

"His conditioning’s insane," Vigeant told theScore. "We’re at altitude too at the BMF Ranch, so that’s the other advantage that he has. He’s been training at altitude for 10 years and he pushes (that) conditioning at altitude. I think it's going to be huge for us."

Vigeant, a Canadian-based strength and conditioning coach, began working with "Cowboy" in 2017 when he was filming a movie in Edmonton.

As the SVPT Fitness founder finishes her fourth camp with the 36-year-old, Vigeant said preparation remains the same despite Cerrone moving up a weight class to face the former two-division champion.

"Everything thinks we’re doing so many different things because it’s Conor McGregor, no," Vigeant explained. "We prepare for these camps the same as we always have. Minor adjustments obviously for the opponent. Getting him strong is definitely (important).

"(Fighting) at 170 pounds he can put on a little bit more size and not worry about a weight cut. Definitely lifting weights more, but always the focus on conditioning. I mean conditioning wins at the end of the day."

Vigeant also helps with his meal preparation in correspondence with the UFC Performance Institute. Cerrone still fuels his body with healthy foods but doesn't have the added stress of cutting back meals.

"He just gets to eat more. That’s always going to be for output, energy levels and just mentality alone, not having to have a huge weight cut is fantastic. Because as you know, it drains the body. So he has a ton of energy and just a great mentality, too.

"He’s being more conscious of what he eats and puts in his body. Because he sees how it affects his output and his recovery. Strength and conditioning as well. As you get older you need to take care of your body better to have better performance. Those are the improvements I’ve seen over the last couple of years (since working with him)."

One change Vigeant did mention was the overall camaraderie of the team and how that will translate into the fight.

"I would say the biggest change in this camp is vibe. We can’t stress enough that when the vibe is good and the athlete is happy, the output is fantastic. This camp we have a very good, a very happy vibe."

UFC 246 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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