Governor Chael P. Sonnen ... coming shortly to the Oregon state capitol building?!
Hell yes, if you ask the MMA legend, who matter-of-factly told TMZ Sports this week ... "I will be governor soon!"
47-year-old Sonnen was born and raised in Oregon -- where he lives to this day.
With violent crime on the rise over the past few years, we asked Chael if he could clean things up inside the Beaver state.
"Oh, for Heaven's sake. Instantly. Instantly. I could bring my old college wrestling team, deputize them, and we would walk through the state in a matter of hours.