Last week on HDNet’s Inside MMA, we broke the news that Maria Kanellis will become the newest member of the network’s MMA broadcast team. Kanellis was WWE’s 2009 “Diva of the Year,” a Playboy Cover Girl, recording artist and a contestant on this season’s “Celebrity Apprentice.” She will debut as the backstage correspondent on HDNet’s LIVE broadcast of “Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage: Legacy” on March 26 from the Silver Legacy Casino in Reno, Nev.

“Maria is an amazing talent with a devoted fan base and we are excited to have her as part of our MMA broadcast team,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “Maria loves MMA and is a superstar on LIVE television – the MMA community will welcome the passion she will bring to covering the sport.”

“My mantra is ‘passion is my motivation’ and I am definitely passionate about MMA!” said Kanellis. “I am excited for the opportunity to be part of the HDNet family. I love their commitment to the sport.”
Kanellis began her career in 2004 as a WWE Diva and appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine in April 2008. Her television credits include appearances on “Family Feud,” “Project Runway,” ” VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown,” “The Insider,” “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” “Red Eye” and “The Today Show.”

She will be featured as a contestant on this season’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” which premiered on March 14 on NBC. Her debut album “Seven Sins” will be available on iTunes on April 13 and a preview of the first single can be heard at http://mariakanellis.net.

Source; www.mmawaves.com

What's up all you stars, studs, and Celebrity Apprentice watchers!!

I just finished watching episode one and it is safe to say that everyone is themselves. What you see is what I lived. I mean Cyndi is as crazy as her hair. Sharon is as fiery as her hair. Donald is as funny as his hair. And Bret come on, don't get me started. There was a lot of hair and humor in this season. As a kid growing up I was a huuuuge fan of Cyndi Lauper so when I saw her that first day I wanted to jump up and down, but unfortunately that would not have been proper. This is a competition and I am trying to beat her. (Really, I just want her to sing to me every day and lullabies at night). Well, I wanted Bret to sing me lullabies too but I think maybe that would have been a completely different show. Yes, I too watched "Rock of Love" with the rest of the world.

Read the rest of the blog; HERE

Season 9 of The Celebrity Apprentice officially got .off to a flying start last night As Maria is taking on 13 other celebrities in the chance to win money for her charity, "make a wish foundation". Donald Trump met the new cast in Grand Central Terminal in NYC, for introductions and their first assignment. The teams, divided by gender, had to come up with a name and also choose the first project manager for the other team.

The women will be called Tenacity and chose Bret Michaels to head up the men’s team for the first challenge. The men came up with the name Rock Solid and picked Cyndi Lauper for the PM of the women’s team.

The Task: Each team will run a diner in NYC for three hours. They were required to cook the food, serve, bus the table, create a menu and any other aspects of running a restaurant. The Rock Solid team had a very distinct advantage with Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone on their team.

The Boardroom: Joan felt the women did a better job and as a reward they were given an addition $10,000 on top of the amount the made. So with the additional $10,000 Tenacity made over $39,000. But, the men’s higher prices brought their total to over $56,000 and they won the task.

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411's Al Norton sits down for an exclusive interview with Maria Kanellis to discuss her recent release from the WWE, her new album, and her stint on The Celebrity Apprentice, which begins this Sunday night.Maria Kanellis responded to an ad for a diva search on USA's Monday Night Raw in 2004 and her life hasn't been the same since. Even though she didn't win she turned that contest into a wildly successful career with the WWE, with the height of her popularity coming in 2008 when she was on the cover of Playboy Magazine and Maxim Magazine had her in their list of the 100 Sexiest Women. She's also done episodes of Family Feud, Project Runway, Sunset Tan, and Attack of the Show. This Sunday she begins a stint on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice where she is competing on behalf of the Make A Wish Foundation.

Al Norton: How did the offer for Celebrity Apprentice come to you?

Maria Kanellis: Actually Mr. Trump asked me to do it. He had come to the show to do some work from Vince and asked me if I wanted to do it. I said I would love to, which led to meetings with the executive producer. I am so glad he did ask.

Al Norton: How familiar were you with the show? Had you watched either the original or the celebrity version before?

Maria Kanellis: I had watched a little bit of the original and I had seen the whole season of the first Celebrity Apprentice. I ended up watching the entire second season as I was getting ready to do the show.

Read the full interview;HERE

It sounds like Maria is keeping busy, busy busy since leaving the WWE. She recently announced on her twitter page she will be co-hosting on MMA. DNet’s Inside MMA show announced earlier tonight that Kanellis will join the broadcast team for promotion, King of the Cage.Kanellis will make her debut on April 17th’s Underground 54 event which will air live on HDNet. A press release on Maria’s appointment is due Monday.

This for me is great news i love how we still get to see her on tv and shes keeping busy. Looks like her quest to conquer the world is getting off to a flying start!

Source:www.diva-dirt.com