Rafael dos Anjos has hit back at Conor McGregor's claim that he would be a two-weight world champion if the Brazilian had not pulled out of their March fight.

McGregor, the UFC featherweight champion, was due to face then lightweight champion Dos Anjos before the latter withdrew with an injury.

And while McGregor instead lost to Nate Diaz in a hastily-arranged welterweight clash, Dos Anjos last month relinquished his title to Eddie Alvarez.

Conor McGregor poses with training partner Dillon Danis ahead of his Nate Diaz rematch

@TheNotoriousMMA if You had fought me you wouldn't be 2 division champ,you would be dead.Look what a out of shape Diaz did to U #I'llbeback — Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) August 8, 2016

Last week McGregor said: 'Realistically I should be a two-weight UFC world champion.

'If I fought Rafael dos Anjos, if he didn't p**** out of that last one and showed up, the shots I cracked Nate with in the first eight minutes would've KO'd Rafael dos Anjos stiff. That's no question.

'I would be sitting here right now as a two-weight world champion.'

But on Monday, Dos Anjos tweeted: 'If you had fought me you wouldn't be a two division champ, you would be dead. Look what an out of shape Diaz did to you.'

McGregor faces Diaz in a rematch at UFC 202 on Saturday week having lost their first fight by second-round submission.

McGregor had been due to face Rafael dos Anjos in March before the Brazilian pulled out

McGregor instead took on Nate Diaz but was submitted in the second round of their fight

'I think I just got into saying I'd stop the guy in the first round,' the Dubliner said of his rival. 'If I really look at it, he has a solid chin. He's durable and very experienced. He has the size and the weight on me. I think that was the wrong thing, to go in expecting the first round.

'I did go out there to KO him in the first round. I marched forward, backed him up against the fence and teed off on his head. I did what I said I would do, but respect to him, he stuck it out. He weathered the storm.

'This time, I'm still going to march forward and bust him up, there's just going to be much more in my tank. I'm going to be a lot more prepared for a man who can stay in there with me.

'Even still, I struggle to give him past round three. If I was to make a prediction, which I will right now, I believe I will repay the favor and KO him inside the second round.'

Dos Anjos, meanwhile, will take on Tony Ferguson in Mexico City on November 5.

McGregor will have another chance to beat Diaz when they face each other again at UFC 202