Tony Ferguson wasn't about to let a little infectious disease stop him from getting the W ... telling TMZ Sports he actually TARGETED the nasty staph infection on Kevin Lee's chest at UFC 216.
"I wasn't sure what it was -- something protruding from his chest," Tony said.
So, logically ... "I was like, 'Well sh*t, just aim for that sh*t.'"
Don't get it twisted -- T-Ferg told us he was super sketched out once Lee confirmed it was staph ... and has taken about 50 showers since the fight.
Bottom line -- staph is disgusting ... and Tony's a savage.