Kate Upton -- Oops, TMZ Spoils Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover

Memba when TMZ published those pics of Kate Upton in a really tiny bikini in the middle of Antarctica??? Turns out we TOTALLY SCOOPED the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition's cover!!!!!

Ooops!!!

Earlier today, the super-secret cover was leaked to the Internet ... featuring Kate in the middle of the frozen antarctic tundra ... a shoot they TRIED to keep under wraps.

We published the pics back in December, right around the time they were shot -- when the temp dipped down to 35 BELOW.

But Kate braved the elements like a stud -- and it totally paid off.

And now we have another reason to look at our candid shots from the glacial "set" ... as if we really needed one.