UFC 12: The Birth of 'The Phenom,' in the Craziest UFC Event Ever

Mark Coleman and Dan Severn show off the event t-shirt at the press conference

Vitor Belfort and Marcelo Alonso, seated on the Octagon that would be torn down minutes later (photo by Carlson Gracie)

After being taken down in New York, the Octagon had to be reassembled eight hours later in Alabama

Team Carlson Gracie boards their flight for Alabama

Vitor Belfort and his boxing coach, Al Stankie, boarding

Ken Shamrock (l) and then-UFC President Art Davie (r) in the front row

Vitor Belfort knocks down Tra Telligman

Belfort needed just 43 seconds to knock out Scott Ferrozzo and win the UFC 12 tournament

Belfort needed just 43 seconds to knock out Scott Ferrozzo and win the UFC 12 tournament

Belfort being hoisted in celebration by his team

Belfort and Master Carlson Gracie

It took Coleman just 2:57 to take Severn down and submit him with a neck crank

It took Coleman just 2:57 to take Severn down and submit him with a neck crank

While Coleman received a belt for winning the "superfight," Belfort got only a medal (detached) for winning the tournament

Wallid Ismail couldn't take Kazuo Takahashi down

After three rounds, Takahashi won by unanimous decision

On the flight back, Ismail complained to McCarthy and Davie that fence grabbing should be outlawed

Ferrozzo congratulates Belfort after his dismantling in the Octagon

Belfort being interviewed on the return flight

After UFC 12, Belfort got his first cover story in Tatame magazine

After winning the UFC 10 and 11 tournaments, Coleman defeated Severn in the UFC 12 "superfight"

While Coleman received a belt for winning the "superfight," Belfort got only a medal for winning the tournament