The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word HEADLOCKS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
H
E
A
D
L
O
C
K
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Holds" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case holds = headlocks.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HEADLOCKS mean?
HEADLOCKS noun- A wrestling move where the attacker puts their arm tightly round their opponent's head, which the opponent can't easily escape from.