Esteban Rodriguez is on Cloud 9 after his 3-second knockout victory at BKFC 78.

After 18 months on the sideline due to a serious medical issue, the Grand Rapids, MI product ran through the previously unbeaten Julio Perez in their recent showdown at the sold-out Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL — good for the fastest finish in the history of BKFC’s cruiserweight division and tied with Ulysses Diaz for the second-fastest finish ever in the BKFC Squared Circle.

“I tried to tell them it was coming,” the personable Rodriguez says with a big laugh. “I tried to warn them.”

Rodriguez may have predicted a show-stopping performance at BKFC 78, but he admits the reality of his historic showing hasn’t quite set in yet.

“Words don’t begin to explain the excitement of everything happening right now, but I’m sticking with what I know. I’m back to training and I’m ready to get back in the ring right now to build on this momentum,” he says.

“I don’t have a scratch on me, so I’m excited to get back in there.”

Rodriguez is now 4-1 in the Squared Circle, with all but one of his wins coming by stoppage. Now, the one they call “Mohawk” only has one man in his crosshairs — BKFC World Cruiserweight Champion Chris Camozzi.

“I’m ready to knock out whoever they need me to knock out on my way to that belt, but I want someone that’s going to push me so I can get out there and put on a show that the fans deserve, and right now that’s Camozzi,” he says.

“It’s gotta be Camozzi.”