Conor McGregor has claimed he outboxed Floyd Mayweather Jr in the early stages of their mega-fight in Las Vegas in August.

Despite having no professional boxing experience prior to the fight, McGregor more than held his own in the early stages of the bout, and many argue he won the first four rounds.

A fast approach was expected as many believed an early stoppage was McGregor's best chance of winning the fight, and this showed as the UFC star raced out of the traps.

This later took its toll as his vastly experienced opponent weathered the storm and systematically picked off McGregor in the later rounds of the fight. However, the Irishman still performed better than anyone expected.

“I improved my boxing skill to an extent," he said at a Q&A in Glasgow last weekend. 

"Everyone was saying to me get in and ragdoll him and muscle him from the bell."

McGregor certainly started quickly, but it was inevitable such a ferocious pace would hurt him later on.

The UFC star continued: “He just covered up his head and walked forward. When the f**k have you ever seen him do that?

"I know if I went another go with him, under boxing rules, I'd get that win.

"I know that. I know by the feeling of him in the first fight.

"He had to change his whole approach. He fought completely than he (usually) fought, he couldn't figure out what I was doing early on.

"I feel with the lessons I learned from that first fight, if I had another go around, I'd get him."

While another Mayweather fight doesn't look likely, UFC fans have been speculating who McGregor should fight next. Most are hopeful his next fight will be against fierce rival Nate Diaz, which would complete a trilogy of bouts with the American.

McGregor's coach John Kavanagh has suggested a third encounter between the two could take place in New York on St Patrick's Day but nothing formal has been agreed yet.